PAST PROJECTS
Project | 01
Gruber Blacksmith Cataloging
I recently have taken the lead on completing the cataloging of the so far over 1,000 items in the Gruber Wagon Works Blacksmith Shop. This is done using Chenhall Nomenclature.
Due to the difficulty of having an accessible computer while in the shop, I first write my descriptions on pre-made forms and then transcribe them and import them into a Microsoft Access form which acts as our database.
Project | 02
Archives Digitization
The small archives at the Heritage Center had not had any sort digitization completed. After a donation was given to us, I made sure that all photographs and meaningful documents were scanned.
The benefit of doing this is easier access, particularly with delicate materials. Documents that were already in the collection were also digitized.
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Project | 03
Digital Tours
The Heritage Center was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to accommodate any interested visitors, I created two self guided tours supported by izi.travel.
The two tours completed were e a site tour and a walking tour of the Union Canal tow-path.
Project | 04
Canal Reconciliation
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Berks County Heritage Center was closed to visitors. With extra time, the site manager and myself (Program Assistant) were able to reconcile several hundred canal artifacts from the C. Howard Hiester collection.
Using a previous document compiled in 2005 by a private cataloging agency, we went through a trailer of various artifacts and ensured they were not missing, then determined whether they could be kept, loaned, or deaccessioned.
Note: I realize a trailer is an inappropriate place to store artifacts, however, a majority of these items were in poor condition (ie. rusty/rotting/moldy) when accepted into the collection. The items that were determined to remain in the collection are noted and will hopefully be exhibited properly in the on-site museum in the near future.
Project | 05
Choose your own Adventure - YouTube
For my RA position, I was given free creative reign over the creation of an exhibit type display for Eldon House. After determining whether I wanted to create an online exhibit or physical exhibit, I settled on exploring the use of YouTube as a means to present artifacts in the collection.
In my project, I am focused on the world tour the Harris family took in 1897. To make it interactive, I selected actual artifacts purchased in four different countries and allowed the viewer to "purchase" the items they think are the most memorable of the family's trip.
This project was submitted and accepted for poster presentation at NCPH 2020 in Atlanta. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the cancellation of the conference, I took part in a virtual poster session on Instagram.
Click to view my NCPH feature on Instagram.
Click to view the video on YouTube.
Project | 06
Banting Traveling Exhibit
The Western University Public History class worked with Grant Maltman, curator of Banting House National Historic Site to create a traveling exhibit. The work on this project spanned from Fall 2019 to Spring 2020.
The class split into groups of 2 for a total of 6 groups to research important moments in Frederick Banting's life. In my group, we focused on the legacy of Banting's discovery of insulin and the history of the historic site itself.
Over the course of this project, we made heavy use of primary sources including newspapers, board minutes, and conducted two oral histories with volunteers that played an important part in making Banting House the Historic Site and Museum it is today.
The final return for this project was a set of six standing posters that would travel London, ON as well as surrounding areas to continue the site's goal of educating the public on diabetes and London's relationship to Banting.
Click here to see our final poster design.
Click here to see our final report.
Project | 07
"Make and Mend" Exhibit
Our group assignment for Museology was to design an exhibit based on a collection in Museum London's holdings. My team chose the theme of "Soft Furnishings" and together, we brainstormed ideas for an exhibit taking into consideration a list of hundreds of items.
We settled on artifacts that represented some sort of reuse. For example, our main artifact was a crazy quilt composed of fair ribbons, men's ties, and women's dresses. Also included was a rug that contains the coat of Canadian artist Greg Curnoe.
Like the other projects that took place during the second term, this project was cut short due to Covid-19 restrictions. We were unable to see the design of the exhibit through, we were, however, able to remotely finish our research and exhibit label text.
Click here to see our labels and levels for our exhibit "Make and Mend"
Project | 08
"Our Musical City"
Along with a group project in museology, we were required to complete one interactive project for an upcoming permanent exhibit at Museum London.
Professor Lloydlangston provided a list of potential topics to explore, and I chose to create a listening station of musicians from London, Ontario.
I used examples from online searches as well as asking the London, Ontario subreddit for some of their favorite musicians from the city to complete a pre-formatted interactive form that highlighted the technology needed and musicians to include.
Click here to see my overview for "Our Musical City"
Project | 09
"LACH Heritage Designation Project"
The “Heritage Designation project had the goal of nominating a historic house located in London, Ontario for heritage designation. This was a lengthy research project that required me to access a variety of primary and secondary resources in order to determine whether a house would be able to be listed under Ontario’s criteria for determining cultural heritage.
The result of this research was compiling all the information into a multi-page research paper as well as presenting a short version of our findings to London’s Advisory Committee on Heritage (LACH).
Click here to see my final report for designation.
Project | 10
Podcast
In my Digital Public History class taken at Western University, our first major project was to complete a podcast episode that would be uploaded to a class Soundcloud account.
The topic I chose was inspired by my undergraduate seminar paper where I discovered a massive request for students to pick as many milkweed pods as possible as well as the man that made it his life's work to show the world that milkweed is more than a weed.
For a first attempt, I was pleased with the outcome and having gone through the process, I look forward to possibly creating my own podcast series in the future.
Project | 12
"Museum of Civil War Music"
As a final project in Digital Public History, we were required to use some form of technology such as GIS, Omeka, or coding, to present a topic or idea to the public.
After exploring various possibilities, I found a website called "Artsteps", a 3D exhibit designer, mostly for art, that allows viewers to explore a virtual museum space and even use mobile devices and a VR headset to further submerge themselves in the setting.
I chose to create a museum space that would tell the story of American Civil War music and musicians. While it was not a perfect execution, exploring the possibilities of a virtual exhibit designer for museums was incredibly enlightening.
Project | 13
RAD Organization Project
In my archives class, we were tasked to work in groups to organize a collection of documents belonging to London Life Insurance Company Archives. These documents began as little more than a random organization of papers. Working diligently, we removed staples and kept track of the various documents that would be placed in various series and sub-series.
After organizing the documents into acid free folders and boxes, we described the collection in a document that was turned in for grading.
Project | 14
"When Children go to War"
HIS 397, or Seminar in Comparative History, was the final course required of all seniors in Shippensburg's history program. Using in class discussion as a base, we were challenged individually to craft a unique essay comparing two topics that had to do with war or genocide.
After exploring the home fronts of Germany and the United States during WWII, I decided to focus my emphasis on how each country's governments ensured that children growing up during the war would subsequently be prepared to fight in it.
Research was done through secondary sources as well as primary sources in the form of boy scout and girl scout guide books. Photographs were mostly found on the library of congress's website.
Click here to see my final paper.
Project | 15
"Museum 2.0"
ENG 323 or Reviewing the Arts for Publication demanded several projects during the course of the class. A required five (5) reviews of different venues were to be completed with at least one published as well as one feature piece on a specific topic. With the rapid influx of technology in museums, I chose to examine how museums are using technology to reach a global audience including social media, phone applications, and interactive technology.
This project eventually developed into a presentation for Shippensburg's conference called "Minds at Work" on April 24, 2018.
Click here to see my final feature piece.
Project | 16
"The Importance of Photography"
ENG 238, or Technical and Professional Writing, was a mandatory course for all Technical and Professional Communications Minors. This class demanded a project that would, in some way, improve the campus or town of Shippensburg. I focused on the development of photographic history that combined archived photographs with present day photographs.
This project also allowed me to attend the 2017 EAPSU conference at Edinboro University with four other classmates.
Click here to see my completed proposal