Assignment 3: Notes from Initial Visit to Suida-Manning Papers at Blanton Museum

Date: 2/2/2009
Location: Museum Archives, The Blanton Museum
Purpose: Meet to discuss preservation needs assessment for Suida-Manning Collection

Participants:
Sue Ellen Jeffers, Museum Registrar, Blanton Museum
Elizabeth Seramur, Student, School of Information
Elspeth Healey, Student, School of Information

PICTURES:



QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q: What does custodian hope to achieve in terms of the collection?

A: Ideally, SEJ would like to establish some degree of intellectual and physical control over the collection, making the materials available to researchers. With respect to the preservation needs assessment, this process could lay the groundwork for future archival processing by determining whether any hazardous conditions exist, the amount of materials needed for rehousing, and the types of materials present. SEJ does not anticipate allocating funds for conservation treatment beyond rehousing activities. Some rehousing may be done by undergraduate work study, or graduate archives students.

Q: What is the size and scope of the collection?

A: The collection materials currently occupy the following :

13 Metal Filing Cabinets:

• 12 four-drawer metal filing cabinets measuring 15 in x 25 in x 52 in
• 1 four-drawer cabinet measuring 18 in x 29½ in x 52 in
  

38 Flat Metal Edge boxes:

• 25 x 17 x 21 x 3 in
  
• 6 21 x 25 x 3 in
  
• 4 15¼ x 11¾ x 3 in
  
• 2 19 x 25 x 3 in
  
• 1 15 x 19 x 3 in
  

Original Letter Boxes and additional material on shelving:

• 42 in x 88 in x 16 in shelving
• 42 inc x 35 in x 16 in (minus half a shelf)

According to SEJ, collection is made up of approximately 50% photographic materials (prints, glass lantern slides, etc.; most appear to be black-and-white, possible non-photographic photomechanical reproduction techniques observed, pending identification) and 50% manuscript materials (correspondence, notes, etc.). Collection appears to comprise a mixture personal and professional records for William Suida (1877-1959) , his daughter Bertina Suida Manning (d.1992), and her husband Robert Manning (d. 1996) including historical materials dating back to the 19th Century. Languages in evidence so far include English, French, and German.

Q: What are the evident current conditions/possible areas of concern?

A: Most of the materials were transferred from cardboard boxes to metal filing cabinets and flat, metal edge manuscript boxes. Some materials remain in original housings such as cardboard boxes and leather folders. SEJ destroyed obviously moldy materials upon accessioning, but some moldy materials may exist. Conditions range from crammed in and overstuffed to falling over due to excess space. Dust is also a problem, particularly with respect to the glass lantern slides. Overall climate appears to be controlled.

Q: What supplies will we need?

A: Gloves for handling photos and potentially moldy items, respirator/mask for dealing with possible mold spores, compressed air for dusting, microspatula for separating pages, measuring tape, and a loupe. Additionally, sticky notes will be necessary to identify materials numerically.

Q: Where will we be working regularly?

A: SEJ has a rolling cart which we can use to transport materials into the Museum Registrar's workspace, located in another room.