Digital Materiality: The Interpretation of an Archival Record’s Material Information Through Its Digital Surrogate
Public Deposited- Last Modified
- September 15, 2021
- Creator
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Kean, Megan
- School of Information and Library Science
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Kean, Megan
- Abstract
- This master’s paper studies archival digitization imagery methodologies to better understand what qualities researchers are looking for in digital records. Participants took a survey of two parts: the first part being comparison questions between two different digitization methods, one which included more material details, versus one that flattened the image. The second part of the survey questioned users’ digital collections usage, including free-response questions about the perceived benefits and limitations of using digital collections. This study found that users of digital archives are interested in seeing the material details of records, as long as the text remains legible. Images that showed more material details of a record, such as embossments, creases, and tears, were chosen almost twice as much as those that did not. Regardless of what representation was preferred, researchers required the handwriting to be legible. Digitization methodologies that only prioritize textual content is misguided, but with small changes, images showing material details can easily be taken with readily affordable equipment.
- Date of publication
- April 26, 2021
- Subject
- DOI
- Resource type
- Rights statement
- In Copyright
- Advisor
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Shaw, Ryan
- School of Information and Library Science
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Shaw, Ryan
- Degree
- Master of Science in Library Science
- Graduation year
- 2021
- Language
Relations
- Parents:
This work has no parents.
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