Collections Vol 12 N4

This focus issue of the journal draws attention to “Collections in a Digital Age” with nine contributions from participants in a working group held in April 2015 as part of the National Council on Public History’s annual meeting in Nashville. In “A Case for Digital Collections,” Sheila Brennan highlights a challenge. How do we represent disagreement and difference in the interpretations of object? Zooming in on the process of digitization, Lauren Tilton writes about the politics of film digitization arguing that we should reconsider archival and preservation “best practices” that require film restoration. William Walker shows how using public history to engage in conversations about contemporary social issues enhances and shapes how one collects and exhibits oral history. Brent Rogers explores the relationship between print and digital documentary editions of the Joseph Smith Papers Project. Brian Failing looks closely at the role of postcards in teaching local, public history. Chris Cantwell’s case study demonstrates the possibility digital public history has to complicate and improve historiography. Kyle Roberts uses the Jesuit Libraries Provenance Project (JLPP) to show how developing digitized library collections offers an opportunity to learn and teach about digital projects, shared authority, and collaboration. Susan Knowles examines a litany of challenges and successes for digitization, preservation, and collaboration within the context of her work at Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Historic Preservation. Finally, Mark Tebeau argues digital tools can augment rather than obscure the materiality of collections. The essays are, like digital public history itself, multi-faceted showing a variety of possibilities, opportunities, challenges, and even best-practices at a range of institutions or dealing with an assortment of historical materials. While each offers much to consider individually, readers will see some interesting and important themes develop across them collectively.