Old Line State: Alex Champion's Week 1 (14) in Annapolis

As anticipated my first week at the Maryland State Archives, and more specifically the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland (LOSIM, pronounced loe-sim) research project, transpired quickly in a flurry of introductions to people, introductions to technologies and procedures, but also surprisingly a meeting with the State Archivist and Commissioner of Land Patents, Dr. Ed Papenfuse. My first day remains a blur as Research & Student Outreach division leader Emily Oland Squires presented me to perhaps every MSA employee. I retained a handful of names out of the four score individuals but had delightful conversations with the ones who were not overly distracted by work.



My work station is in “Electronic Classroom 2,” a low ceilinged nook of the atrium-like “Search Room” where registered patrons are greeted by an expansive West-oriented seafarer’s map that is the first known depiction that names eastern Maryland’s counties. It fits the overall aesthetic so well that you wouldn’t even know it was there because of a mistake. The consequence of a design flaw not realized during the building's planning; the map covers massive windows looking into the rooms that once housed the photolab. Dr. Ed Papenfuse, whose name also graces the side of the building, originally envisioned a structure with as much transparency as possible; the stacks, administrative offices, conservation lab, reference offices are clearly visible to the public. Upon the building’s completion they decided it was improper to have extensive natural light enter the photolab so they placed the map there instead.



Chris Haley

Over the following days my immediate supervisor Christopher Haley adapted their standard intern training schedule to my needs as I familiarized myself with the various Websites and resources used by the LOSIM staff. On Tuesday the LOSIM staff met with Dr. Papenfuse. He reviewed an affiliated group member’s efforts to change the associated forms in the LOSIM databases to improve working speed but also used my arrival as an opportunity to reiterate the importance of our work. He assumed an academic air and began speaking as if from a memorized lecture. Dr. Papenfuse feels a strong sense of responsibility and ownership for and in the success and continuation of this project.

 

Kent Co. Court Proceedings

Jenn

Later in the week I met with Conservation Archivist Jenn Cruickshank as she outlined document handling practices and familiarized me with 18th century bookbinding. I remembered Jenn from our introduction where, with some gentle prodding, she brought out her inner conservation geek and spoke about the myriad backgrounds and skills that make for a good conservator; a background in the sciences that gives you familiarity with chemicals, an appreciation for the humanities like art or history, an attention to detail, and patience. Following a boilerplate preservation slideshow and some idle conversation we ventured into the conservation lab and reviewed her latest project—the Kent County Court Proceedings book from 1748 to 1749.

Iron shavings

A hardy book, it is composed of four vellum tapes and written in iron gall ink. The ink holds up well to time but is susceptible to rust in moist conditions, which discolors and often damages the paper further, and smeared easily unless tiny iron flecks were sprinkled over the letters like a glitter and Elmer’s glue craft project from Kindergarten. While demonstrating the iron shavings, she identified a fragment within the binding as a bit of broken off quill. Although the vellum, which is made from cotton fiber instead of wood fiber, is sturdier than many 19th century paper stocks, it is still harmed by water, mold, insects, and the corrosiveness of the ink itself. Apparently its thickest lines, again written by quill, eat holes into the paper, too. While delicately turning the pages of the book, she pointed at restorative efforts that essentially bridge the gaps between breaks at the edges and retarded further cracking.



MSA's variety of gloves

I sensed some excitement as we came to Jenn’s work area. She explained the benefits and uses of the various handling gloves they used. Like my previous workplaces the MSA uses the famous archival white gloves for handling photographs but, unlike my other workplaces, the MSA utilizes thinner latex or nitrile gloves for document handling by patrons and employees. 
“The UltraSense brand is very tactile,” Jenn spoke with a slightly elevated voice indicating excitement, “they’re very good for feeling what you’re touching.” True. White gloves were not used precisely because their thickness inhibited gentle handling. “They’re made in America,” she added. She also explained her inventory system that she uses to track glove use and rank vendors but, oddly, emphasized that she did not want my blog to impress upon readers that she endorsed a particular company.

Later in the week I met with Kathryn Baringer of the Appraisal & Description department to instruct me on the various government record tools and procedures available on the Maryland State Archives’ Inter and Intranets. Since records fit into established series (MSA follows the Australian/NewZealand model, so NO record groups) and Special Collections are A) sparse and B) a separate department, her division is typically referred to as “Appraisal.” The primary tools I will use for government records are their “Guide to Government Records” or, Guide, and “Maryland Land Records dot Net” or, M-D Land rec. The mechanics of search and the quirks of their interfaces are not worth getting into but it is very evident that, very early on, the MSA made the conscious decision to digitize swaths of series for research purposes. My supervisor Chris Haley tells me that Dr. Papenfuse was an early advocate of digitization and Web access.

On that same day I also helped reassemble the five part “Flee!” exhibit in the search room atrium. The MSA maintains three sets for display in multiple locations but Dr. Papenfuse prefers to have at least one on hand for emergencies.