| Blog Post Published on: | 27th November 2022 |
| Title: | Discussion of the Cost of Digitizing and Updating CPC's Archive |
| Lead Author: | Fred M. Beshears |
| Type of Blog Post: | cpc_archive |
Is Pine Needles available on-line? I've looked at the CPC website, but I don't see it.
I'd love to read them!
Josh - the CPC Archive created by Katie Shilton back in 2001 does have old copies of Pine Needles. However, to my knowledge they have not been digitized. Also, as I understand it, Katie and her supporters (i.e. campers and John Glass) did not have the time and resources to add much meta-data to the editions of Pine Needles stored in the file cabinets in the farm house, which she talks about in her report from 2001.
Recently, Devon Greyson made some very useful suggestions regarding the next steps that CPC could take to bring the CPC Archive up-to-date. Part of that effort could (and should, IMO) include the digitization of the documents included in our Archive. Pine Needles would be a good place to start.
The challenge, however, is finding the funds to undertake the digitization of our historical documents.
Devon suggested that we should consider working with professional archivists at places like the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan (where we already have a number of our historical documents) as well as places like the UMich School of Information Science. The latter might be able to provide us with a skilled intern, which is similar to the case with Katie Shilton back in 2001. (Note that Katie came from Oberlin college, not UMich.)
To follow up on Devon's suggestions, I sent out two very tentative proposals earlier this month: one to the Bentley Historical Library and the other to the UMich School of Information Science.
Shortly after I submitted these tentative proposals - which I shared with a key CPC Board Member and CPC's current director - I decided to withdraw them when that board member expressed concern that my proposals might put financial and living space stress on Circle Pines - a stress that we could ill-afford.
In what follows, I've posted the gist of those two proposals and a redacted version of the concern expressed by a CPC board member.
This is part of a proposal that was recently submitted to the Bentley Historical Library, and then subsequently withdrawn because CPC may lack the ability to support for said project.
"""
Hello, my name is Fred M. Beshears.
I'm a member of Circle Pines Center, a co-op summer camp and retreat center here in Michigan. We have a physical archive of our historical documents going back to 1938.
We are interested in continuing our partnership with the Bentley to help us preserve our documents and to provide a finding aide to help researchers locate physical and digital documents in the archive. I'm fairly certain that we could provide in-kind services to help digitize these documents. But, we need the advice of a professional archivist from the Bentley to advise on organization and meta-data.
We would also be interested in working with the University of Michigan's School of Information - especially their Archives and Records Management program (ARMP). We might be able to raise the money required to hire an intern from the ARMP to help us organize our material.
Finally, a search of your collections shows that you already have some of our physical documents, specifically:
1. Circle Pines Center architectural drawings and renderings, 1942.
2. Circle Pines Center 35th anniversary anthology.
3. Anthology, 1944 : first fruits :
a collection of creative works by members and friends
of Circle Pines Center / compiled and edited by Lois G. Runeman.
4. Pine needles
"""
This is part of a proposal that was submitted to the University of Michigan's School of Information Science, and subsequently withdrawn because the funding (and other forms of support, such as housing) for said project is in question.
"""
This proposal is related to an archival project CPC has with the Bentley Historical Library.
Back in the early 1980s, Circle Pines contributed some of our physical archival documents to the Bentley.
In addition, in 2001 we established a physical archive of our historical documents here at Circle Pines with the help of Oberlin undergraduate Katie Shilton.
Introduction and Guide to CPC's Archive
by Katie Shilton
https://mycirclepines.org/blog_posts/introduction-and-guide-to-cpcs-archive/
CPC's Archive: 2001 Article in Pine Needles
by Katie Shilton
https://mycirclepines.org/blog_posts/cpcs-archive-2001-article-in-pine-needles/
Since our archive is not up-to-date, we are interested in continuing our partnership with the Bentley.
We would also be interested in working with the UMich School of Information - especially your Archives and Records Management program (ARMP).
More specifically, we might be able to raise the money required to hire an intern from the ARMP to help us organize our material.
Since we run a summer camp, we may be able to have your intern stay as staff at Circle Pines for the summer while camp is in session. Further, some of our summer campers (and perhaps some adult volunteers familiar with CPC's history) may be able to provide your intern with assistance. In essence, this was our arrangement with Katie Shilton back in 2001.
"""
In this redacted section of an email, a CPC board member is expressing concern regarding the cost of bringing an intern to CPC to help organize our Archive and bring it up-to-date.
"""
At this point, I do not think we have the funds nor can commit to housing during summer camp.
We barely have enough for the staff we have.
This would have to go through a process before anything is agreed to on behalf of CPC.
"""
This is my response to the CPC Board member who raised concerns about financial cost and limited housing/space for projects regarding CPC's Archive.
"""
I'm still interested in moving to the CPC area (e.g. getting an apartment in Richland). That way, I could work over an extended period of time to digitize our historical documents using my own tools and resources. Before I make that move, however, I'd like to know if my proposal to do so would meet with the approval of CPC Board's and CPC's administration.
As far as I can tell, my proposal shouldn't cost CPC anything. I'd just need to have access to the filing cabinets set up by Katie Shilton back in 2001. If CPC cannot afford to provide any space for me to work at Circle Pines, then I would need to take small batches of documents back to my apartment so I could scan them there.
"""
CPC's Archive Project: Should CPC Partner Up With a Library?
Fred M. Beshears
11 November 2022
https://mycirclepines.org/blog_posts/cpcs-archive-project-should-cpc-partner-up-with-a/
A Discussion of Digital and Physical Archives for Circle Pines Center
Fred M. Beshears
26 October 2022
https://mycirclepines.org/blog_posts/a-discussion-of-digital-and-physical-archives-for/
"Nowadays, I believe the next step would be to find a university library that would like to add the CPC archives to it's special collections. As you clearly know, digitization ≠ digital access & preservation, but an academic library (perhaps at MSU or UMich?) would be well-equipped to take on that project, as they would already have the infrastructure for their special collections and likely just need a grant to cover the costs of staffing to do the scanning and metadata work." - Devon Greyson
"""
Yes, UW Center may know about Co-op Archives. Quick search of their digital collections doesn't scream to me that they'd want a non-WI co-op's fonds, but I think UofM in Ann Arbor (home to NASCO) is worth a try & they also have a (very large) Library & Information Science school.
Their archives on Co-operatives are more eclectic, although most have not yet been digitized/digitally preserved.
What we would need is the interest/buy-in of an academic library with special collections, a supervising archivist (as in a real, professional one, not me, haha!), and the funds to pay a practicum student for however long this much material would take.
Funds may actually be the easiest part if CPC could be a community partner & donate in-kind work/materials or matching funds for a grant--as far as preservation grants go this would be pretty small potatoes.
"""
- Devon Greyson
Circle Pines Historical Archives
Peter Rasmussen
11 November 2022
https://mycirclepines.org/blog_posts/circle-pines-historical-archives/