Archival Research & Cataloging
Standards-aligned description and discovery to make materials findable and usable.
What Jennifer Delivers
- Standards-aligned description to support discovery, access, and long-term stewardship.
- Clear, reproducible workflows that reduce ambiguity between teams.
- Collaborative, detail-driven documentation that withstands audits and time.
Core Outcomes
- Consistent descriptive metadata and authority control across systems.
- Streamlined research handoffs (curatorial, registration, education).
- Rights/citation clarity to minimize legal and ethical risk.
Descriptive Metadata
- DACS-aligned description for archival collections and components.
- Authority control with AAT and Library of Congress vocabularies.
- Controlled fields, notes, and relationships for reliable retrieval.
Cataloging Systems
- Axiell Collections: object/archival record creation and updates.
- CONTENTdm: digital object metadata and discoverability prep.
- ArchivesSpace: component-level description and hierarchy control.
Research & Use
- Research dossiers for curatorial development and loans.
- Exhibition checklists with locations, lender data, and notes.
- Rights, citation, and permissions guidance for safe reuse.
Case Study: Oscar Trophies—Cataloging & Condition Reporting
At a major film museum, Jennifer supported the cataloging and condition reporting of a set of Oscar® statuettes. Using an industry-standard collections management system (TMS), she worked in close coordination with Registration to unify records, document condition, and prepare the objects for exhibition.
Approach
- Verified object identifiers; linked creators, events, and provenance in TMS.
- Standardized titles, materials, and inscriptions; added award categories and dates.
- Performed visual examination and drafted condition notes with consistent terminology.
- Attached high-quality reference images and location data for pulls and mounts.
- Cross-checked rights/citation details and lender information for labels and credits.
Results
- Single, authoritative record set supporting exhibition and research requests.
- Faster object retrieval and clearer accountability for movements/handling.
- Exhibit-ready condition documentation and images for mountmaking and lighting.
- Reduced duplication by aligning controlled vocabularies and fields across teams.
Note: Institutional details are summarized to respect internal policies and confidentiality.
Ready to elevate description and discovery?
Partner with Jennifer to make your materials more findable, citable, and usable.
Let’s Collaborate
(323) 270-7263
payanjennifer9@gmail.com