Square Pegs, Round Holes: Thinking Creatively about Housing and Storage

No Thumbnail Available
Date
2006-01-01
Authors
Seo, Hilary
Zanish-Belcher, Tanya
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Person
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Organizational Unit
Special Collections and University Archives
The Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives collects, preserves, and shares documentation of the experiences, achievements, and memories of people and organizations reflecting the university's major research areas, with a special commitment to documenting the history of the university. Supporting the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology and human creativity to work, we strive to enrich learning and encourage investigation by a diverse community of users.
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Special Collections and University Archives
Abstract

Providing proper housing and storage of archival materials is a primary goal undertaken in all archives. Standard containers for manuscripts, documents, photographs, three-dimensional objects, and other archival materials are readily available. However, for nonstandard, unusual, or complex objects that require additional support, developing housing or specialized storage can be problematic. Thinking creatively about housing and storage of archival materials increases the wealth of housing options available to archives even when a conservator is not available. Archivists can incorporate premade and traditional archival supplies in innovative ways to create structures that store and protect, while at the same time, limit handling during use and exhibition. Three basic methods (sink mats, boxes with fillers, and archival sleeves and wrappers) can assist in this process and are illustrated with examples from the Iowa State University Library Special Collections.

Comments

Published in Archival Issues, 30, no. 1 (2006): 45–67.

Presented as "Square Pegs, Round Holes: Thinking Creatively in Terms of Housing and Storage" at Midwest Archives Conference Annual Meeting, Bloomington, IN, April 28, 2006.

Description
Keywords
Citation
DOI
Source
Copyright
Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2006
Collections