The Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) has installed a new exhibit in their Reading Reading which features items from its artifact collection. Each member of the SCUA staff was given the chance to select one item from the artifact collection and write a short description about it.
A misconception about many special collections and archives is that they collect a large amount of 3-d objects, more commonly called artifacts. An archives main focus is the collecting preserving and providing access to documents, photos, moving image, sound recordings and books. Artifacts commonly enter into museum collections as this is their dedicated purpose and have space dedicated to store and display these items.
This distinction is true to how SCUA operates here at ISU, with our collections being made up of over 17,000 linear feet of documents, 20,000 audio-visual items, 50,000 rare volumes, and 1,000,000 still images (photos, slides, negatives). Yet, SCUA does have an artifact collection that consists of nearly 4,000 items.
As mentioned above, artifacts are not an area that we focus on collecting. So, why have we, and why do we continue to collect some artifacts? When we do decide to bring an artifact it is because it documents an important aspect of the university’s history, or shows an important aspect of history related to our manuscript collecting area.
Please visit SCUA Monday through Thursday, 10am-4pm to view the new exhibit.
Cardinal Tales 