Thesis
Alterations: the effects of digitization on the study of academic costume collections
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Dec 2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-6951
Abstract
This thesis explores the effects of digitization on the study and exhibition of historic costume collections in colleges and universities. Based on interviews with key curatorial staff at six academic costume collections, I will argue that digitization, although expensive and time consuming, is essential to managing an academic costume collection and the associated outreach and education. Curators and collections staff who make their collections available online, either in the form of a catalogue database or more informally through social media, have greater intellectual control over their collections. They have the potential to reach more users in a broader geographic area and have more productive appointments with researchers. When sufficient digital photography is available, wear and tear of fragile collection items can be mitigated because the need to pull objects from storage is reduced. Producing digital photography also lays the groundwork for digital exhibitions and digital components to accompany physical exhibitions.
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Details
- Title
- Alterations
- Creators
- Rachel Ward Sepielli - DU
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Arts Administration; Arts and Entertainment Enterprise; Drexel University; Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design
- Other Identifier
- 6951; 991014632294904721