Sustaining the Standard of Excellence: Collections Data Management

Project Description:

The Hampton University Museum will expand the accessibility of its African

American art collection through a three-year collection management software

implementation project. Building on a recently completed inventory and digital

documentation project, the museum will engage a data manager to input data to its

collections management system on paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, and

fiber arts. The collections data manager will lead training sessions for the

museum’s curatorial team to ensure their proficiency in using the software system

and their ability to carry on the work at the end of the grant period. In each year of

the project, four student interns will work with the staff to scan curatorial records

including catalog cards and accession paperwork. The museum will present small,

online exhibitions that will make the collections more fully accessible to scholars,

educators, students, and the public.