Gearing Up For The Inventory

Post by: Lauren Ippolito

              Assistant Collections and Exhibitions Manager

In September and October 2011, necessary supplies were purchased to help kick-start the collections inventory project. One of our most used and favorite purchases by far is the Canon digital SLR camera. As we are photographing every object in the collection, we are enhancing our collection documentation, and as a result, many of these photographs will be included in the creation of an online database, which will greatly broaden the scope of public access to the WCMFA’s collections. 

Additional photography equipment was needed for the collections inventory project including a tripod, lighting equipment, and a copy stand. Our photography equipment and areas to photograph objects must conform to wide array of objects in the WCMFA collection from miniature portraits on ivory to large bronze sculptures. 

 

A new laptop and mobile laptop cart were also initial purchases that are critical to the collections inventory project. Using the laptop on the mobile cart, we have the freedom to inventory throughout the museum’s galleries and storage areas. In the photo below, there is a fun USB light attachment that our summer intern brought in so that we can easily type in inventory data while photographing objects in lower light levels.