Archives Vs. Preservation: Why the Divide?

Many people around the Library have recently noticed an intriguing, orange line on the floor in the shared Archives and Preservation Area on 3rd floor. Jokingly people have asked “Why are you fighting?” 

The truth is, we’re not fighting at all!

One of our goals this year to is create a clear distinction between the Archives department and the Preservation department. By sharing the same space, folks have been a little confused…and we want to help!

What Does Everyone Do?

 

On the 3rd Floor, ARCHives = Digital

Anne and her ARCHives accomplices (shared with Mee) are successfully digitizing many different formats of historic material. Anne’s work involves preserving and providing access to historical information about Minnesota State University, Mankato and South Central Minnesota, including photos, yearbooks, student newspapers, oral histories and more about Minnesota State University, Mankato and South Central Minnesota in ARCH, the University Archives Digital Collections.  In addition, Anne helps to maintain the University Records Center, housed in the lower level of the Taylor Center and assists Mee as needed in the University Archives and Southern Minnesota Historical Center.

  

For the most part, Preservation = Physical

Jamie and her Preservation crew address preservation issues for physical items within the Library collections at Minnesota State University, Mankato that need repair, binding, custom enclosures, encapsulation, gluing, replacement, etc. Jamie does not preserve digital items or personal items in the Library. Jamie and her students work in the Government Documents department as well. In regards to preservation, she also co-chairs the Disaster Team with Daardi Sizemore, University Archivist. Find out more about Preservation at MNSU: lib.mnsu.edu/services/preservation.

 

University Archives and Southern Minnesota Historical Center

Mee and her Archives students help to manage the day-to-day needs of the University Archives. This includes working with researchers to identify materials housed in the University Archives that may help in their research. Currently, there are many ongoing projects to organize, preserve, make accessible, and highlight our collections. Learn more about the University Archives and Southern Minnesota Historical Center: http://lib.mnsu.edu/archives/.

In conclusion, Archives and Preservation are not having a hard time getting along. We just do different tasks!

Jamie Dalbey is a Preservation and Government Documents Technician at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Learn more about Preservation here.

New Collection: Minnesota Vikings Training Camp. Oral History Interviews and Collection, 2015

A screenshot of Vikings Training Camp interviews in ARCH.

During the summer of 2015 the University Archives collected oral histories to present the 50 year history of Vikings Training Camp at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Former and current Minnesota State faculty and staff, former Vikings players, and fans were interviewed. Most oral history videos are 1-3 minutes long.

This collection exists in two different locations:

1. The University Archives holds the physical materials created and collected during the course of the project. View the collection guide here: http://lib.mnsu.edu/archives/fa/smhc/smhc251.html
2. ARCH, University Archives Digital Collections holds the oral history videos. View the collection of videos here: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3Avideos 

A few notable videos include:

• Former Vikings player and Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Alan Page: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A56840
• Former Vikings player Dave Osborn: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A40774
• Minnesota State Mankato faculty member Evan Rusch talks about attending camp as a child: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A40577
• Fan Gerald Provost talks about his promotion on the field at the 50 yard line: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A43873
• Minnesota State staff member Jamie Dalbey talks about being a security guard one summer at Vikings Training Camp: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A40393
• Former Vikings player John Swain: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A40779
• Pam Hodapp Schreiner and Debra Hodapp talk about their memories of the beginning of Vikings Training Camp at Minnesota State and their father, John Hodapp, and his role in bringing the Vikings to Mankato: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A47772
• Fan Andy Haack talks about how camp is a tradition of his family’s: http://arch.lib.mnsu.edu/islandora/object/MSUrepository%3A43858

Visit the Minnesota State Mankato’s University Archives!
Are you interested in viewing this collection? Contact us with any questions or to set an appointment for your visit: http://lib.mnsu.edu/archives/info/contact.html


Mee Xiong is an Archives Technician at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

New Collections: July 2016

Our most recent graduate assistant, Josh Smith, processed several collections during his time with the University Archives. Listed below are a few collections we felt were worth highlighting. Don't worry, there will be more collection highlights in the future!

Republican Women of Mankato. Collection, 1949-1961. SMHC Manuscript Collection 249.
http://lib.mnsu.edu/archives/fa/smhc/smhc249.html

A sample of the collection materials. Photo courtesy
 of University Archives at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

This collection consists of materials associated with the Republican clubs and individuals in the

Mankato area. The collection is focused on the Republican Party in Minnesota, and the Mankato and Blue Earth County area more specifically, but there is a considerable amount of documents involving the party on the national level. The collection contains newsletters, pamphlets, letters, and party policy papers.

Materials in this collection appears to come from Mrs. June Ogle, as there are letters addressed to her and her name appears multiple times at the top of documents. Mrs. Ogle was the wife of Republican State Representative and lawyer Arthur H. Ogle, who represented Blue Earth County in District 8. Mrs. Ogle was a member of the Mankato Federation of Republican Women, which is a branch of the Minnesota and National Federation of Republican Women. The Mankato branch no longer exists.

Tri-Sigma Sorority, 1989-2010. SMHC Manuscript Collection 253.
http://lib.mnsu.edu/archives/fa/smhc/smhc253.html

This collection consists of scrapbooks put together by the Tri-Sigma sorority over the years and documents the sorority’s history at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The scrapbooks are broken into two types, with some being focused on events and others focused on member profiles.

The Mankato chapter is known as Epsilon RHO. Some of the other big events and days for the sorority throughout the year are bid day, homecoming, and their numerous trips and charity days. Today the Mankato chapter of Tri-Sigma continues to be an active part in the community and at the university.



Visit the Minnesota State Mankato’s University Archives!
Are you interested in viewing the two collections mentioned above? Contact us with any questions or to set an appointment for your visit.


Mee Xiong is an Archives Technician at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Vinegar Syndrome Part 3: What Next?

This is the third installment of a multiple part series about Vinegar Syndrome at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  For more information about Vinegar Syndrome, see our first and second installments.

Oh boy, we DO have Vinegar Syndrome!  What now?  Can we salvage these important negatives without putting the other 14,000+ negatives at risk for decay?  Is it even possible?

Our Archives Area discussed possible options for this threat, such as re-sleeving and re-boxing, freezing and prioritizing the negatives for digitization in-house or the possibility of out-sourcing the digitization of the negatives.  It was determined that we would make a final decision after re-sleeving and re-boxing was complete.

So how do you quickly re-house 14,000+ negatives? AND review each of them for possible Vinegar Syndrome? AND isolate those negatives that somebody decides MAY have the beginnings of Vinegar Syndrome?

Here's what we did:

Supplies Needed: 

24 Card File boxes

7 packs of Index Cards

150 packs of Negative Sleeves

Katonians Available for Sale

1955 Katonian

Did you know that you can get your very own copy of a Katonian for just $10?

We announced in November that yearbooks have been digitized and are available for viewing in ARCH, our University Archives Digital Collections. The yearbooks cover years 1906-1981.

Yearbooks are also available for viewing in person in the University Archives. They are part of the University Student Publications collection. Peruse the collection guide here: http://lib.mnsu.edu/archives/fa/msu/msu130.html.

What you may not be aware of is that the University Archives has a large number of extra yearbook copies we do not need. You can, in fact, purchase these copies from us.

Let us know which year(s) you may be interested in purchasing and we can double check to see if we have sale copies available for that year.


As always, never hesitate to contact the University Archives with any questions you may have.



Mee Xiong is an Archives Technician at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Thinking Inside the Box: Custom Box Making for the World...Literally!

After working in Preservation for over a year, I realized that I never learned how to make a custom box. When an old globe in need of protection came my way, it was finally time to learn! Luckily, I didn't have to do it alone...

In collaboration with the University Archivist, a Library Graduate Assistant (GA) and an Intern in Preservation, we began to make plans to create a custom box for a valuable globe from the early 1800s!

All we had was this oversize tray...

 Once we began our planning, we decided to build the top of a box which would slide on top of the tray that was already being used to carry the globe. Here's what we did:
1. Cut out 4 pieces of Davey board (70 pt) to fit together inside the tray in which the globe was sitting in. Choose which piece would be the front and cut out a "viewing" window to allow for the globe to be exhibited without having to take off the protective pieces.

Our GA and Intern working hard! 

2. Score and glue the pieces of Davey board together. To reinforce the Davey Board we used strips of scored 10 pt folder stock paper and PVA glue on the inside corners of the box-to-be.

After gluing the Davey Board, we put strips along the inside corners from top to bottom

3. Size and glue in polyethylene foam pieces to act as base mounts on the bottom (tray) piece for the globe to sit on. This helps to minimize sliding or the globe falling over during transportation.

The foam pieces fit for each leg of the globe

4.  Score and brace the bottom of the box using 70 pt Davey board pieces (2 inches on each side) in each of the bottom corners. This prevents damage as the box is lifted from the tray.
5. Measure, cut, glue the top of the box which is currently open. We measured it to be 3/4 in smaller along the edges.
6. Line the outside edges of the box with strips of scored medium weight, paper-backed bookcloth (black) for a smoother appearance and added structure.
7. Adhere Mylar on the inside of the box to cover the "viewing" area for added protection. Use 3M double sided tape for this.
8. Step back and admire. Be sure to allow ample drying time in between the steps before getting ahead of yourself. This is not something you want to redo!

They did a great job! 

9. Have a little fun with it.
 

For other uses, why not try "Librarian in a Box"

10. Label, catalog, and place on shelf, exhibition area, etc. You can find this boxed globe on first floor in the Maps area!

Comment below if you have any questions on how this process worked or how you would have done it!  

All photos are courtesy of J.Dalbey at Memorial Library.

Jamie Dalbey is a Preservation and Government Documents Technician at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Learn more about Preservation here.

Updates to the South Central Minnesota Veterans History Project

A few South Central Minnesota Veterans History Project oral histories that have VHS videocassette recordings have been transferred to DVD and added to their respective collections. Copies of these DVDs are also being sent to the Veteran’s History Project to be added to their collections.

Collections transferred onto DVD include:

• Strohfus, Elizabeth, 1919-. Oral History Interview and Collection, undated-2004. SMHC Manuscript Collection 1722.
• Huhn, Allen, 1921-2011. Oral History Interview, 2004 SMHC Manuscript Collection 1725.
• Lee, Royal, 1916-2014. Oral History Interview and Collection, undated-2004. SMHC Manuscript Collection 1726.
• Schuster, Paul, 1924-2005. Oral History Interview, 2004. SMHC Manuscript Collection 1727.
• Young, Loy, 1923-2015. Oral History Interview, 2004. SMHC Manuscript Collection 1728. 

The Southern Minnesota Historical Center conducted an oral history project to document experiences of Americans during World War I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf Wars. Veterans of all branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine, were invited to participate. The SCMVHP was open to those who have some association, whether past or present to any of the following counties: Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Freeborn, LeSueur, Martin, Nicollet, Rice, Sibley, Steele, Waseca, and Watonwan.

Learn more about the South Central Minnesota Veterans History Project here.

As always, never hesitate to contact the University Archives with any questions you may have.



Mee Xiong is an Archives Technician at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Yeah Science! Vinegar Syndrome: Part 2 Testing for the Problem

This is the second installment of a multiple part series about Vinegar Syndrome at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  

Testing for Vinegar Syndrome:

Upon discovering the degradation of negatives in the Archives collection, my colleague researched the problem. The symptoms were clear; the plastic portion of the photo negatives were shrinking, buckling, more brittle, and even had the slight smell of vinegar syndrome. But before treating the issue, we needed to make sure that was the actual problem afflicting these negatives. Otherwise, our time, effort and resources would be put to the wrong use and would not help the situation at all.

The Scientific Method in Action:

Though my colleagues and I are not scientists, we realized that an experiment needed to take place in order to provide the collection with the best treatment plan possible. Here’s what we did:

Our Question: Do these negatives have vinegar syndrome?

Research: Please see previous blog post for more information about our research of the problem. We Googled the symptoms and came across many academic and non-academic articles, blogs, and posts pointing to the same thing.

Hypothesis: Some of the negatives have vinegar syndrome, but with varying points of deterioration. 

The Experiment:
We purchased A-D strips, dye-coated paper strips that can be used as a measure for level of deterioration from vinegar syndrome. This was the safest method we could find to detect vinegar syndrome and measure the severity of it. Since vinegar syndrome causes some acidic off-gassing the strips were to change color if vinegar syndrome was the issue.

1. We placed strips in each wooden drawer that contained negatives, closed them up, and waited at least 24 hours to read the test strips.

The negatives were stored in these

2. After 24 hours, we compared each strip in each drawer to the color reference pencil which showed the colors and strip levels.The color blue (the color the strips were initially) showed that there was no Vinegar Syndrome present. Any of the other colors on the spectrum indicated the severity of the Vinegar Syndrome plaguing these negatives.

These strips turned a yellow-green indicating that the severity of Vinegar Syndrome was high

Our Data: 

We numbered the drawers and used the chart below to determine severity level. 0 = Vinegar Syndrome-free, everything else indicated otherwise.

Here's how these strips worked

  Results:

We found that there were several drawers of negatives that were afflicted with varying levels of Vinegar Syndrome. Our hypothesis had been proven correct.

Though many negatives were also shown as Vinegar Syndrome free (see our Data above), we decided to take a measure of precaution for all of these. Please stay tuned for our next post on what we did next!

First 3 images courtesy of MNSU Archives/Preservation Department. Last 2 images courtesy of Image Permanence Institute.