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Rediscovering Alta California: Increasing Access to 18th and 19th Century Religious and Secular
Collections The Mission Santa Clara Manuscript Project
Erin M. Louthen
Santa Clara University
May 2014
In the Beginning . . .
Origins and acquisition of the Mission Santa Clara (MSC) Manuscript materials
– We didn’t so much as acquire as inherit– As far as we know, we’ve always had them in the archives– Some items have been (and continue to be) on display at
the campus museum, the de Saisset Additional MSC materials collected over time from
various institutions and resources– Primary collector was Fr. Arthur D. Spearman (1899-1977),
historian and University Archivist at Santa Clara University, who in the 1950s and 1960s created the artificial collection we have now
A Truly “Hidden” Collection
No catalog record in SCU’s OSCAR (OPAC) Brief inventor(ies) written over time, in paper format
only Inventor(ies) scattered throughout various places in
Archives & Special Collections Several historical resources explaining bits and
pieces of the collection, but no centralized inventory or definitive text on the subject
Discovery of collection mainly due to word-of-mouth
The Need for Discovery – An Appeal for Support & Funding
Pitching the project to the President’s Office Identifying stakeholders and interested parties Describing project priorities, goals and outcomes Generating funding for the project End result: Full-time temporary archivist position
secured on soft money
Phase One of Project Approved! Now What?
Hire an archivist/historian to analyze and describe the collection
Challenges in finding the right person for the job Decided that hiring a historian would be more
appropriate than an MLIS grad Idea that a historian could transcribe and create
document context while the University Archivist could create the finding aid structure
The Mission Santa Clara Manuscript Project
Goals and Objectives:– Arrange– Describe– Conservation/Preservation– Identify items for future digitization– Create finding aid and publish on OAC
Easy, right?– Well, it doesn’t look so bad . . .
Sure, Not So Bad Until . . .
We were given the deadline: 8 months Expectations were that we would accomplish the
aforementioned goals, and to provide a project report to the President’s Office detailing our progress, our tasks in process, and tasks for the future.
If report was well-received and the project was deemed successful, the President’s Office would lobby for more funding to extend the historian’s appointment for another year.
Did We Meet Expectations at the Eight Month Mark?
Yes, at the series level:– We identified seven series: Sacramental Records; Informes
(Reports); Fr. Viader’s Miscellany Book; Alta California Manuscripts; Ecclesiastical and Governmental Correspondence; Music Manuscripts; and Reproductions and Ephemeral Materials
We processed, arranged, described and created a basic finding aid for 31 boxes (out of 35)
We published the finding aid to the OAC We received funding for another 1-year appointment
for our historian, as well as funding to support digitization efforts (15 hours a week)
Next Steps:
In Phase Two of the project, we will:– Create a comprehensive finding aid with more description
and context, possibly down to folder level– Translate select documents of historical significance– Digitize select documents for online exhibit to be published
on SCU library website (and elsewhere?)– Work with a local book conservator to complete rehousing
of specific manuscripts into custom enclosures
Next Steps (Part 2):
“Brown Bag” presentation about the MSC Project for SCU librarians and staff, faculty and students
Possible article? Possible exhibit?
Images of the Collection
Images of the Collection
It’s Up!