Coursework

While at the iSchool, my coursework included focuses in archival enterprise, digtization, preservation science, disaster planning and response, records management, exhibits, and database management. Below are a few samples of projects I completed.

Archival Enterprise I & II

During Introduction to Archival Enterprise I, I successfully completed a practicum at the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture & Sports (further information provided on the Archival Experience tab). In addition to practical experience, I learned about the history of archives and the theories behind archival processing practices.

During Introduction to Archival Enterprise II, I learned more about ongoing themes and subjects in the wider world of archiving, including diversity, ethics, and climate change. We were assigned a semester-long writing project, and I pursued a topic related to my interests in climate change and collections preservation. Ultimately, I wrote a perspective paper investigating the use of Passivhaus energy efficiency standards in the construction of future archival storage facilities by researching the Imperial War Museum's Duxford Paper Store as a recent case study. My paper, "An Airtight Investment: Practicing Environmental Sustainability Through the Construction of Passivhaus-Certified Archival Facilities" can be clicked on a read on the right.


Morton_AE2Paper.pdf

Treatment Techniques for Flat Paper

This course focused on methods that archivists—not certified conservators—could use to treat damaged materials and house them in proper conditions. During the first portion of the course, I successfully constructed a custom-made storage container for a variety of items that were assigned at random. I had to research and take into consideration the materials that the items were made of, then design and construct an appropriate closure. My enclosure report can be clicked on and viewed on to the right.

Enclosure Report.pdf

The second portion of this course was the hands-on treatment of a 17th-century map, which I was unfortunately able to complete because the covid-19 pandemic pushed our course online. However, before going online, I assessed my map, documented its damages, completed mold remediation, analyzed it under microscope and UV-light, and began my treatment report. I completed a theoretical treatment plan but was unable to implement my treatment plan on the map itself.

Treatment Proposal; Map of Frisia.pdf

Survey of Digitization

  • Created a digital portfolio on Omeka

    • Digitized documents, photographs, and audiovisual materials

    • Created master and access copies by performing edits, including photograph color corrections, and audio/video transcoding

    • Curated metadata for digitized materials using Dublin Core

  • Applications Used/Skills Learned:

    • Command Line functions

    • EPSON Scan

    • Adobe Photoshop

    • Adobe Acrobat

    • Audacity

    • Exiftool

    • BWFMetaEdit

    • Tesseract OCR

    • FFMPEG