Reuniting Archaeology and Archives through the Smithsonian Institution’s Ralph S. and Rose L. Solecki Papers and Artifacts Project

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History recently conducted a two-year project to process and connect the archives and artifacts of archaeologists Ralph and Rose Solecki, most famous for their work at the sites of Shanidar Cave and Zawi Chemi Shanidar in northern Iraq. Through a collaboration between the archivally-focused National Anthropological Archives and the object-focused Department of Anthropology collections management group, the Ralph S. and Rose L. Solecki Papers and Artifacts Project sought to set an example for archaeological collections and archives stewardship by preserving the association between archaeological specimens and archival records through an integrative methodology of archival processing and specimen cataloging to increase their value to future researchers. Further, the project provides a case study intended to contribute to interdisciplinary conversations about the enduring legacy of archaeologists and their collections within archives and museums through collaborative collections and archives management.

More product, less process in film collections: a case study at the Pacific Cinematheque

This thesis is an applied case study, wherein a donation of materials was assessed at the Pacific Cinematheque Archive between January – June 2019. The archive has struggled to process their backlog due to a strain on resources—an issue that is prevalent in the archival profession, and particularly in small institutions. The objective was to apply broad principles from Mark A. Greene and Dennis Meissner’s 2005 paper “More Product, Less Process: Revamping Traditional Archival processing,” aimed at large paper and manuscript collections, to managing backlog at the Pacific Cinematheque Archive in order to help establish a minimal processing workflow that would allow for faster access to materials in the future. The case study explores the applicability of Greene & Meissner’s processing framework in a small, film-centric archive, as well as the implications of making archival selections in this setting and the importance of preserving and providing access to these films.

More product, less process in film collections: a case study at the Pacific Cinematheque

This thesis is an applied case study, wherein a donation of materials was assessed at the Pacific Cinematheque Archive between January – June 2019. The archive has struggled to process their backlog due to a strain on resources—an issue that is prevalent in the archival profession, and particularly in small institutions. The objective was to apply broad principles from Mark A. Greene and Dennis Meissner’s 2005 paper “More Product, Less Process: Revamping Traditional Archival processing,” aimed at large paper and manuscript collections, to managing backlog at the Pacific Cinematheque Archive in order to help establish a minimal processing workflow that would allow for faster access to materials in the future. The case study explores the applicability of Greene & Meissner’s processing framework in a small, film-centric archive, as well as the implications of making archival selections in this setting and the importance of preserving and providing access to these films.

Natural language processing and machine learning as practical toolsets for archival processing

Purpose This study aims to provide an overview of recent efforts relating to natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning applied to archival processing, particularly appraisal and sensitivity reviews, and propose functional requirements and workflow considerations for transitioning from experimental to operational use of these tools. Design/methodology/approach The paper has four main sections. 1) A short overview of the NLP and machine learning concepts referenced in the paper. 2) A review of the literature reporting on NLP and machine learning applied to archival processes. 3) An overview and commentary on key existing and developing tools that use NLP or machine learning techniques for archives. 4) This review and analysis will inform a discussion of functional requirements and workflow considerations for NLP and machine learning tools for archival processing. Findings Applications for processing e-mail have received the most attention so far, although most initiatives have been experimental or project based. It now seems feasible to branch out to develop more generalized tools for born-digital, unstructured records. Effective NLP and machine learning tools for archival processing should be usable, interoperable, flexible, iterative and configurable. Originality/value Most implementations of NLP for archives have been experimental or project based. The main exception that has moved into production is ePADD, which includes robust NLP features through its named entity recognition module. This paper takes a broader view, assessing the prospects and possible directions for integrating NLP tools and techniques into archival workflows.

As fotografias nos arquivos pessoais e familiares: para uma revisão teórica

Research about personal and family archives that was developed based on the literature published in Portuguese language and on technical visits carried out in December 2019 at the Archive and Library of the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, in Évora, and at the Photographic Documentation Archive of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, in Lisbon, with the objective of verifying how the archival processing of photographs presents itself in this panorama. It seeks to examine how the authors conceptualize personal and family archives and how is the photographs presentation in these archives. It was found that there is no consensus among the authors on the terminology used in this area and that, although photographs are present in most personal archives, the literature in the area does not reflect this reality.

Some Aspects of GDPR Implementation in NAR

While the implementation of GDPR raised concerns for archivists in Europe mainly from the perspective of the quality of archives and archival processing challenges, this paper focuses on administrative implication of collecting personal data during the services to the public performed by National Archives of Romania. First, they are identified the main processes where the protection of personal data may be involved, then discuss the challenges and propose some possible solutions. The conclusion is that, if implemented in a smart way, GDPR gives an opportunity for modernization of workflow and reduce of red tape in organizations.

Agility in the Archives: Translating Agile Methods to Archival Project Management

“Agility in the Archives” affirms the importance of project management in special collections and archives, demonstrating how agile project management methods can augment success in archival processing projects. Shein, Robinson, and Gutierrez present criteria commonly used to measure project success and examine agile project management factors that have been correlated with project success in other disciplines. The authors introduce agile principles and provide practical insight on how agile factors can be adopted to support project success in archives. Drawing examples from a grant-funded project completed by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) University Libraries, the authors establish parallels between efficient iterative archival processing and agile project management methods. The study calls archivists to look beyond the details of archival processing techniques and to approach archival processing projects holistically.