Visual Resources in GSU Special Collections and Archives

Special Topics in Heritage Preservation: Theory and

Practice of Digital History, Jan 27, 2015

Peter J. Robertsproberts@gsu.edu

Overview History of AJC, Lane, and O’Neal

Photos Arrangement File naming Scanning policy On-line access

AJC Photos

Late 1800’s to 1990’s; 76,000 terms; 300,000 prints 7 million negatives. Finding aid in Reading Room.

History of Lane and O’Neal

They began as ambulance chasers to scoop their competitors and sell their pictures to news outlets.

History of Lane and O’Neal

chronicles the economic, social and political forces that transformed Atlanta from a regional city into the commercial capital of the South.

Arrangement and Description Provenance Original Order (Tracy O’Neal) Artificial Arrangement (Lane

Brothers) searching

Arrangement and Description Inventoried to the envelope level using

the creator’s descriptions (WordPerfect mail merge. Finder text database. WordPerfect data later exported to mySQL)

Number of people who worked on it Need to use synonyms when

searching – consider place name changes.

File Naming

LBGP === Geographic PlacesLBGPF == .. FacilitiesLBGPNS == .. Named StreetsLBCB === Corporate BodiesLBCE === Corporate EventsLBMPE == Movie Premiere

Events

File Naming

LBCB024-004a translates as Lane Brothers, Coroporate Bodies (Series), Box 24, Envelope 4, image “a”.

Leading zeros are necessary for computer file listings.

Selection for Scanning and Preservation Selection for cold storage Channeled negatives

Selection for Scanning and Preservation

Street scenes and buildings are the most requested

Selection for Scanning and Preservation

Second most requested are events

On-line access

Discovery (family photos, change in vegetation)Navigating CONTENTdm

What to expect when doing research here (how to use archives)

Reference interview Registration form Reviewing finding aids Requesting boxes Instructions on using documents: One box

at a time, sign in box, keep pages in order, [ ]

Reviewing documents Requesting scans Copyright issues – Gift agreement

Electronic & Other Resources

WorldCat ? Repositories of Primary Sources GA State Historic Preservation

Office (GA Department Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division)

Vanishing Georgia Project