A Brief Overview of Artists' Archives in Rome
Project Description
This project encompasses the creation of an online journal by the class to document and share insights from our site visits to archives in Rome, Italy. My contributions are threefold: a personal homepage, and two subpages. Firstly, a homepage featuring brief blog posts on the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation’s archive in New York City and on the Keats and Shelley Memorial Museum’s archive in Rome. Secondly, a daily journal subpage recording my observations from the week-long trip to Rome. Lastly, a subpage summarizing significant learnings from the institutions visited, such as the National Museum of XXI Century Arts’ adherence to ISAAR CPF standards, the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art's archive management practices, the Central Institute for Catalog and Documentation’s efforts to incorporate contemporary collections and reassess existing holdings through an artist residency program, the Elisabetta Catalano Archive's use of Adobe Lightroom Classic for digital file management and a customized FileMaker for organizing prints and negatives, and the Franco Angeli Archive's efforts in provenance research to combat art forgeries of Angeli work. This journal serves as a comprehensive record of the educational journey, blending personal reflections with professional insights in the field of Library Science.
My Role
I contributed to this collective project, which was completed by all students enrolled in the spring 2024 course. The design, research, and writing of the personal homepage and two subpages mentioned in my project description were my sole responsibilities.
Methods — In preparation for the trip, I compiled a list of personal sites to visit which included the Keats Shelley Memorial Museum. I conducted preliminary research at the New York Public Library's special collections, exploring holdings related to the museum's establishment and its history in Rome. During our week in Rome, I focused on the technological platforms and software used by these institutions, documenting their acquisition and appraisal processes, organizational structures, and catalog management practices. Back in New York, I integrated this information into the design and writing of my google site pages, incorporating photos taken by myself and fellow students of the archives, and adding links to crucial resources like the ISAAR CPF standards.
Rationale
The project demonstrates a detailed understanding of the library and information science (LIS) profession and an interest in building international relationships with LIS professionals, evident by the exploration of practices like using the global archival standard ISAAR CPF, learning about the open source data management platform Pimcore, and viewing a customized FileMaker for a more user-friendly interface to manage photographic material. The project, through documenting site visits to archives and museums, where discussions included highlighting underrepresented figures in Italian art, reevaluating archives, curating exhibitions that incorporate new theoretical ideas like performing archives, and establishing new acquisition policies, emphasizes the ethical considerations in preserving and disseminating information from an international perspective. The project creatively presents reflections on archival practices in an online journal, sharing insights with both peers and professionals in the LIS field.