Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive

Alexandra Farrugia’s Practicum Project: Green-Wood Cemetery Archive

Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive

Project Identification

Project: Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive

Student: Alexandra Farrugia

Course: LIS698 Practicum Summer 2014

Site Supervisor: Archivist Anthony Cucchiara

Project Site: Green-Wood Cemetery Archive

Instructor: Dr. Tula Giannini

Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive

Abstract: To process collections and create finding aids for input of information into Archon. My duties in digital archiving and scanning/photographing of historical records encompass both access and preservation.

Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive

Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging ArchiveNature of Work

Founded in 1838 and now a National Historic Landmark, Green-Wood was one of the first rural cemeteries in America. By the early 1860s, it had earned an international reputation for its magnificent beauty and became the prestigious place to be buried, attracting 500,000 visitors a year, second only to Niagara Falls as the nation’s greatest tourist attraction. Crowds flocked there to enjoy family outings, carriage rides, and sculpture viewing in the finest of first generation American landscapes. Green-Wood’s popularity helped inspire the creation of public parks, including New York City’s Central and Prospect Parks. My work at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archive encompassed both Access + Preservation. Processing collections, creating finding aids, and inputting data into Archon is a vital step towards the access of information. Digitizing historical records has contributed to both preservation and access. The digital records are copies of their original and are much easier to access and obtain across departments.

Preservation requires access but access isn’t enough to ensure preservation.

Journaling my Experience at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archive

Collections Processed: !

Grave Selection Receipts (1849-1857), Land Conveyances (1825-1937),

Real Estate Investments (1894-1944), Legal Correspondence (1848-1903),

Ida Mellen Green-Wood Cemetery Scrapbook (1927-1954), Land Title Abstracts (1891-1908),

Tax Records (1922-1955)

Journaling my Experience at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archive

Sample Series: Grave Selection Receipts (1849-1857)

Scope: This collection contains handwritten receipts confirming the selection of specific cemetery lots by lot owners or their estates. Grave receipts verify the purchase of cemetery lots &/or single graves, identifying individual or group to be buried. Each receipt contains the name of lot owner(s), address, and location of lot. In some instances, receipts can also indicate lots or single graves issued in the name of a particular individual or group of individuals bequeathed by a purchaser or executor as part of an estate. Additional information may include profession, lot diagrams, refusals, and payment information. When individuals were unable to purchase the lot themselves, their heir or estate is named in lieu of the intended lot owner. [These documents can be especially significant to individuals conducting genealogical research.]

Abstract: This collection of Grave Selection Receipts identifies lot owners &/or their estates and can be useful to individuals conducting genealogical research relating to Green-Wood Cemetery from the years 1849 to 1857.

Arrangement: Boxes arranged by year. Folders are arranged chronologically by month. Materials within the folders are arranged alphabetically by last name. [Extent: 6 Archival Boxes]

Journaling my Experience at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archive

Journaling my Experience at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archive

Challenges: Processing archival collections requires a certain degree of

familiarity. At Green-Wood Cemetery Archive this comes with certain challenges. There are two obstacles I was faced with

throughout my work at Green-Wood.

#1. Distinguishing Handwritten Documents #2. Understanding Formal/Legal Documents

Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive

Digital Perspectives

Access to data tomorrow requires decisions

concerning preservation today.

The archival system used by Green-Wood Cemetery is Archon. Perhaps the biggest issue is Archons recent merge with ArchivesSpace. Integration to the new system has not started due to the infancy of the archive at Green-Wood and the question of whether or not conversion will disrupt the system already in place.

Archon is just another example of digital obsolescence and makes it easier to

understand why archives still practice microfilming original documents.

Next Steps…

#1. Finish required 100hrs of field work end of week 8/15. #2. Obtain evaluation

#3. Publish blog of journal entries.