Internships to Increase Public Access to Archival Resources

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The National Capital Region Museum Resource Center houses over 45 historic and archeological collections. The facility and its staff manage and curate a wide variety of museum property representing the history and culture of the National Capital Region and the United States. The archival collections of the National Capital Region range from data associated with archeological excavations, the National Archives for Black Women's History, park resource management records, and extensive photograph collections from National Capital Region park units and the National Capital Region Headquarters. These collections are housed both at park units and at the Museum Resource Center. The project would support the development and creation of baseline documentation of archival records throughout region. Records are currently stored in basements, attics, storage rooms, boxes, desk drawers, and libraries where there is little control and organization and often in acidic boxes. There is a lack of control, accountability and accessibility to the larger public. Students participating in this project will experience a wide range of professional archival tasks, including archival assessment; writing processing plans; researching title, copyright and privacy issues; documenting condition and recommending conservation needs; processing collections; developing finding aids; and supporting researchers at the MRCE.

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