Stevens Institute of TechnologyS.C. Williams Library

Michael Satalof, Project ArchivistSpring 2013

Report on Antiques, Artworks, and Special Collections

Project Summary

Purpose• Create a campus-wide inventory and visual record of historic

artifacts and artworks at Stevens.

• Document current location and condition.

• Describe historical context and provenance.

Background• Used legacy inventories, donor files, and special collections.

• Longtime staff and administrators were invaluable.

Project Summary

Based on 2004 appraisal inventory

• 371 art and historic artifacts documented in 2004

• 355 of these objects located and inventoried in 2013

• More than half are in now new locations

Project Summary

Artifacts not inventoried

• The Library’s bibliographic materials

• The Library’s collection of mechanical models

• The Frederick Winslow Taylor and Stevens Family collections

• 16 objects not located from the 2004 inventory

• Non-special collections or antique items

Project Summary

Inventory

• 520 objects inventoried– 195 visual artworks

– 259 furnishings

– 53 documentary artifacts

– 13 structural components

• 1,150 images captured

Locations

– Wesley J. Howe Center

– S.C. Williams Library

– Hoxie House

– Alexander House

– Pond House

– Edwin A. Stevens Hall

– Pierce Hall

– Campus grounds

Element Definition Example

Object Identifier An unambiguous and unique number assigned to each object.

01.1.3

Title Title of an object, either given or supplied. Portrait of Rachel Cox Stevens

Creator The artist, agent or agency, maker or manufacturer responsible for creation of an object.

Unknown (not apparently signed)

Description Description of the object that can include physical, intellectual, or additional contextual information.

Purportedly after an original by Gilbert Stuart (via, 2004 appraisal inventory). In 17th century giltwoodframe.

Date Date of creation. Circa dates are indicated as “Ca.” Mid-19th century

Source Information about the object’s provenance, donor information, or former campus location.

Formerly located in Castle Stevens, in the Gold Room, and later displayed in the Castle Room.

Condition Description of the physical state of an object, based on visual inspection (from a vocabulary list: Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor).

Good – With minor surface cracking in spots on canvas.

Dimensions Physical dimensions, in inches and feet. 40” w x 47” h

Medium Medium or media comprising an object. Oil painting

Location Current campus location (from a vocabulary list). Hoxie House, Drawing Room

Inventory Process

Unique ID number

• Assigned to each object or set

• Classification system based on The Getty’s Art & Architecture thesaurus

Inventory Process

Unique ID number

The Moon and Stars01.4.1

scw_01.4.1_1.jpg

Inventory Process

Unique ID number

The Moon and Stars01.4.1

Visual work

scw_01.4.1_1.jpg

Inventory Process

Unique ID number

The Moon and Stars01.4.1

Visual work

Mobile

scw_01.4.1_1.jpg

Inventory Process

Unique ID number

The Moon and Stars01.4.1

[sequential #]

Visual work

Mobile

scw_01.4.1_1.jpg

Photographic Inventory

scw_02.10.53_1.jpg

Photographic Inventory

scw_02.10.53_2.jpgscw_02.10.53_1.jpg

Photographic Inventory

scw_02.10.53_3.jpgscw_02.10.53_1.jpg scw_02.10.53_2.jpg

Filemaker Inventory

Filemaker Inventory

Filemaker Inventory

Transition to Collective Access

Collective Access cataloging portal

Transition to Collective Access

Collective Access for online discovery• Direct publication of materials online

• Enhance visibility of special collections

• Curate digital “exhibits” and collections

• Will serve as a digital image management system

Maintain Filemaker database locally• Used to generate reports and for quick search

• Will serve as a backup and database for local use

Transition to Collective Access

Filemaker Pro• Advantages

– Powerful data-sorting abilities

– Ease and speed of use

– Customer service

– Configurable

• Disadvantages– Limited online access

– Cannot support multiple or high-res images

– Cannot support audio/video

– Requires a license

Collective Access• Advantages

– Collections can be accessed online

– Supports multiple/high-res images

– Supports video/audio

– Supports vocabularies/authorities

– Configurable

– Free and open-access

• Disadvantages– Requires in-depth database setup

– Requires an internet connection

– Slower response time

Other Project Outcomes

Other Project Outcomes

Preservation and Library storage space

• Harmful storage environments identified

• Artworks and historic artifacts removed

• Environmental damage noted in inventory

• Dedicated storage space for framed artworks

• Approximately 70 framed artworks wrapped and moved

Other Project Outcomes

Preservation and Library storage space

Dedicated storage room for framed artworks

Other Project Outcomes

Preservation and Library storage space

02.17.6 – Mirror previously damaged and improperly stored

Other Project Outcomes

Object Identifier system

Other Project Outcomes

Object Identifier system

Workflow for tagging objects

Other Project Outcomes

Object Identifier system

Workflow for tagging objects

Opportunities for students• Engage students with collections and with Stevens history

• Identify particular skills or expertise

• Scanning, photography, tagging, some preservation work

Next Steps

Oral history recordings

Next Steps

Oral history recordings

Further research of historical context

Next Steps

Oral history recordings

Further research of historical context

Preservation initiatives for objects

Next Steps

Oral history recordings

Further research of historical context

Preservation initiatives for objects

Further inventory of objects not documented