Conference Focuses on Not Erasing the Past

CAPE MAY – All of us have been disappointed when cherished photos have faded or old newspaper clippings we have saved have crumbled.
Many of us have had to move our music collections from vinyl records to cassettes to CDs to mp3s. Few are using cameras these days with film and worry if they replace their computer, they may lose all their digital photos.
On a grander scale, librarians, historians and archivists are also concerned we may be erasing our history as technology changes.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) was held this past weekend at Congress Hall. Archivists attended a number of workshops and general sessions that educated attendees on the “basic components of archival science needed to preserve the documentary history of all communities, academic, industrial, military, spiritual, public and private alike.”
County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti, co-chair of the local arrangements committee, told the Herald 313 persons had reservations for the conference.
Nearly about every major institution of higher learning and archives from seven Mid-Atlantic states were represented at the event, said Fulginiti, including the Library of Congress, Princeton University and Seton Hall University.
MARAC meets twice annually but has not met previously in Cape May, she said.
A tent was placed on the lawn for a Friday night reception.
Fulginiti said archivists were greatly concerned that in the future we may not be able to access photos or files created with our current technology.
“Will these treasures that we keep survive?” she asked.
She said the county was constantly “refreshing” electronic records but still backs up records on microfilm because it is a proven media for long term retention.
“Paper as a medium is very resilient,” said Fulginiti. “Our archives are filled with paper.”
Through a grant, the county has undertaken conservation treatments to its most precious records in 189 volumes.
Churches are a good source of information on births, marriages and deaths plus documenting local social programs such as food pantries. A workshop session was held on the topic of archives of local houses of worship.
Fulginiti said major religious institutions do a good job of archiving information. She said smaller churches may need help to preserve their records.
Another workshop dealt with trying to identify when old portrait photographs that don’t bear a date by examining clothing and physical characteristics of the photo.
The role of archives in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire television series was discussed in a session.
A number of vendor displayed products and services related to archiving.