Empower your collections' potential

Archivist, collections management specialist, and digital preservation consultant serving cultural institutions, artists, families, and private collections in San Miguel de Allende and Southern California.

My Services
Archive WorkMuseum WorkArt Conservation
Trusted by SoCal institutions
Jennifer Payan Portrait
archival services preservation consulting collections management

Institutional Partners & Collaborators

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Autry Museum of the American West
California State University, Fullerton
Self Help Graphics & Art
Visual Communications
Vincent Price Art Museum
Academy Museum
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center
LA County Arts & Culture
Ellsworth Kelly Studio
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Autry Museum of the American West
California State University, Fullerton
Self Help Graphics & Art
Visual Communications
Vincent Price Art Museum
Academy Museum
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center
LA County Arts & Culture
Ellsworth Kelly Studio

Hey there! I'm Jennifer Payan Jennifer. I am an archivist, collections management specialist, and digital preservation consultant serving cultural institutions, artists, families, and private collections in San Miguel de Allende and Southern California.

Biography

I am an archivist, collections management specialist, and digital preservation consultant based in San Miguel de Allende and Southern California. With a Master of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University, I have honed skills in metadata standards, cataloging, and digital preservation. My background includes roles at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures as an Assistant Registrar and various archival internships, contributing to my expertise in cultural heritage and community-driven projects.

Driven by a passion for preserving marginalized histories and improving access to cultural assets, I strive to combine rigorous archival methodology with innovative digital solutions. I am dedicated to fostering collaboration between curators, conservators, and educators to deliver impactful exhibitions and resources.

10+

Years Exp

5+

Institutions

10+

Projects

Jennifer Payan Working

Professional Services

Clear, reliable support across collections management, archival research, and digital preservation.

Archival & Collections Management

Maintain physical control, arrangement, and standards-aligned description of your historic and artistic collections.

  • Accessioning, barcoding, and archival rehousing
  • Descriptive metadata standards (DACS, LoC, AAT)
  • Database support: ArchivesSpace, Axiell, Mimsy XG, TMS
  • Physical arrangement, cataloging, and inventorying

Digital Preservation Consulting

Stabilize born‑digital and digitized assets with practical workflows, audits, and detailed documentation.

  • Digitization planning & requests intake design
  • File‑naming, digital inventorying, and fixity checks
  • Preservation copies, backups, and storage tiers guidance
  • System audits, policies, and retention schedules

Museum Registration & Art Conservation

Support artwork loans, exhibition coordination, and the preventive conservation of public art and murals.

  • Artwork loan agreements and preparation for exhibitions
  • Object handling, tracking control, and location logs
  • Detailed condition reporting and monitoring
  • Public art conservation assistance and IPM coordination
Our Process

I've perfected collections care and offer bespoke guidance through the preservation lifecycle.

From initial audit to hands-on preservation and digital access, every stage of your collection's journey is carefully planned and executed.

Discovery Phase

Research & Evaluate

Assess the present nature of your archival infrastructureResearch the broader record-keeping implications of your industryIdentify and analyze the gaps in your archival strategy

01
Planning Phase

Strategize

Establish goals and determine goals and address the gaps identified during the records evaluation. Communicate timeline for implementation and delivery.

02
Ongoing Care Phase

Project Management

Collaborate closely with your team to ensure project goals align with business goals. Provide consistent progress updates. Facilitate any outsourced vendor coordination.

03
Ongoing Care Phase

Records Management

Develop comprehensive inventory of existing recordsCatalog archival assets. Evaluate efficacy of digital and physical storage conditions.

04

Education & Experience

Education

2023 - 2026

Master of Library & Information Science

San Jose State University

2020 - 2022

Bachelor of Arts, Art History

University of California, Los Angeles

2016 - 2020

Associate in Arts, Art History & Studio Art

Pasadena City College

Experience

Registrar

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery

Assistant Registrar

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Library Pager

Autry Museum of the American West

Professional Development

Archives Intern

Ellsworth Kelly Foundation

Conservation Technician

Site and Studio

Conservation Technician/Archive Assistant

Dominguez Sculpture Restoration

Contact

Send a note—I'll get back to you soon.