Penn Museum Details Digitization Efforts for Global Collection Access
The Penn Museum's Digital Records, Archives, and Publications department is systematically creating digital versions of its collection to enhance global accessibility and preservation. This involves photographing artifacts in galleries and storage, including large-scale items like a 15-ton sphinx and nine-foot-tall Buddhist statues, using mobile studio setups and specialized equipment. The process generates approximately 15,000 object images annually, with about half of the museum's holdings currently available online. Key staff include photographers Fran Sarin and Jennifer Chiappardi, and digitization assistants Jessica Carmine and Dan Lo Mastro, supported by funding from The Graham Foundation. Digitization enables detailed study of objects from anywhere while minimizing physical handling of fragile artifacts.
Key facts
- Penn Museum's DRAP department creates digital surrogates of artifacts for online access and preservation
- Approximately 15,000 objects are imaged each year through studio and storage photography
- Large artifacts like a 15-ton sphinx and nine-foot-tall Buddhist statues are photographed in situ using mobile equipment
- About 50% of the museum's collection currently has digital images available online
- The Graham Foundation provided funding for digitization equipment used in storage areas
Entities
Institutions
- Penn Museum
- The Graham Foundation