This week, I was given a brief interlude from scanning fraternity scrapbooks when the archivist told me that there was a priority project that needed work - and involved the scanner. One of the Jesuits on campus had requested a digital copy of a notebook in the archives owned by a former student, Morris Gates. The notebook is the oldest item in our archives, dating to the early 1830s.
Needless to say, I've been insanely careful all week with this notebook.
Most of what is written inside is Latin translations, especially from Cicero's
In Catilinam. The handwriting is fairly neat for script, and most of the book is in black ink, with the exception of a penciled in signature on one of the back pages. I was also somewhat excited to see ink sketches of birds made completely out of flourishes on the first page - it's a craft that is rarely practiced anymore, and I thought it was really cool to see.
Scanning wise, this book wasn't much different than the scrapbooks. Because it is older than 1950, I did handle it with gloves (as per protocol), and made sure to be gentle while flipping pages to prevent any further damage from coming to it. But, despite its age, the notebook was relatively easy to scan, and was actually a little easier than the scrapbooks have been, mainly because I didn't have to worry about glare on photographs.
I've really enjoyed working with Gates' notebook this week, and I'm excited to wrap up the fraternity scrapbooks next week.
This week's playlist has been more Fall Out Boy - I'm really hooked on
American Beauty/American Psycho. It's also really good for an energy boost just when scanning gets to be tedious.
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| Fall Out Boy |
Below are some images (finally!) of the scrapbooks that I've been working with. Eventually, I will get them up on a website and you will be able to see them in their entirety.
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| Kappa Sigma Crest |
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| Kappa Sigma Scrapbook |
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| Phi Kappa Transition, Phi Kappa Theta 1959 Scrapbook |
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| Phi Kappa Theta 1962-63 Scrapbook |
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| Phi Kappa Theta 1964-65 Scrapbook |
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