New Beginnings - Summer Practicum

This summer, I am wrapping up my MLIS degree with a practicum.  I will be working at the Chicago History Museum from May through August.  The word thrilled hardly encapsulates the level of interest and excitement I have about this opportunity.  For one, the Chicago History Museum is major institution, rich in cultural heritage resources.  For two, I feel like this practicum addresses all my interests in the field of libraries and archives: women's history, photography, and reparative cataloging.  

So, let me tell you what I will be working on this summer.  I will be working with a collection of carte de visites.  If you are not familiar with this particular photographic medium, let me fill you in.  They were all the rage in the latter half of the nineteenth century.  Patented in 1854 by Andre Disderi, the Carte de visite was a small portrait photograph, about the size of a business card, which one could leave behind upon visiting someone's household.  Introduced in New York in 1859, the carte de visite became an important memento for those who wanted to remember soldiers who were off fighting (and dying) in the Civil War.  The format became incredibly popular and many people collected carte de visites (A Brief History).

Well, Chicago History Museum has a collection of carte de visites.  The problem is, when the names of the sitters were recorded, it was often the custom to refer to women by their husband's names, as in "Mrs. Robert Johnson".  Thus, the history and identity of women in these photographs have effectively been erased.  My job therefore, will be to research the women in the photographs and try to discover their maiden names.  When there names have been recovered, the information will be added to the catalog record.  One can imagine how this would open up so many new possibilities for researchers.  One could then trace the women's lineage as well as easily as their male counterparts.

So is this practicum a prefect fit for me?  Yes!  For one, I have a deep curiosity and love for all things photographic.  I have been a photographic artist for over twenty years and a photography teacher for fifteen years.  My dad was also a photographer so I grew up surrounded by photographs.  Secondly, I have always been a feminist and in recent years I have become an advocate for expanding the range of voices being included in archives, museums, and libraries.  Third, I am highly motivated to make an impact in cultural institutions through what is referred to as "reparative cataloging".  Libraries, museums, and archives reflect those who are the stewards of the resources.  And the stewards reflect the culture and time period in which they exist.  We now know the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.  Adding women's identities to the catalog is a way to restore their voices and to finally include their personal histories.  The recovered identities will provide useful new information that will expand access for researchers.

Stay tuned for more information as I embark on this journey!


References: 

“A Brief History of the Carte De Visite.” A Brief History of the Carte De Visite from The American Museum of Photography™, https://www.photographymuseum.com/histsw.htm.

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