Rediscovering Alta California: Increasing Access to 18th and 19th Century Religious and Secular

Collections The Mission Santa Clara Manuscript Project

Erin M. Louthen

Santa Clara University

May 2014

In the Beginning . . .

Origins and acquisition of the Mission Santa Clara (MSC) Manuscript materials

– We didn’t so much as acquire as inherit– As far as we know, we’ve always had them in the archives– Some items have been (and continue to be) on display at

the campus museum, the de Saisset Additional MSC materials collected over time from

various institutions and resources– Primary collector was Fr. Arthur D. Spearman (1899-1977),

historian and University Archivist at Santa Clara University, who in the 1950s and 1960s created the artificial collection we have now

A Truly “Hidden” Collection

No catalog record in SCU’s OSCAR (OPAC) Brief inventor(ies) written over time, in paper format

only Inventor(ies) scattered throughout various places in

Archives & Special Collections Several historical resources explaining bits and

pieces of the collection, but no centralized inventory or definitive text on the subject

Discovery of collection mainly due to word-of-mouth

The Need for Discovery – An Appeal for Support & Funding

Pitching the project to the President’s Office Identifying stakeholders and interested parties Describing project priorities, goals and outcomes Generating funding for the project End result: Full-time temporary archivist position

secured on soft money

Phase One of Project Approved! Now What?

Hire an archivist/historian to analyze and describe the collection

Challenges in finding the right person for the job Decided that hiring a historian would be more

appropriate than an MLIS grad Idea that a historian could transcribe and create

document context while the University Archivist could create the finding aid structure

The Mission Santa Clara Manuscript Project

Goals and Objectives:– Arrange– Describe– Conservation/Preservation– Identify items for future digitization– Create finding aid and publish on OAC

Easy, right?– Well, it doesn’t look so bad . . .

Sure, Not So Bad Until . . .

We were given the deadline: 8 months Expectations were that we would accomplish the

aforementioned goals, and to provide a project report to the President’s Office detailing our progress, our tasks in process, and tasks for the future.

If report was well-received and the project was deemed successful, the President’s Office would lobby for more funding to extend the historian’s appointment for another year.

Did We Meet Expectations at the Eight Month Mark?

Yes, at the series level:– We identified seven series: Sacramental Records; Informes

(Reports); Fr. Viader’s Miscellany Book; Alta California Manuscripts; Ecclesiastical and Governmental Correspondence; Music Manuscripts; and Reproductions and Ephemeral Materials

We processed, arranged, described and created a basic finding aid for 31 boxes (out of 35)

We published the finding aid to the OAC We received funding for another 1-year appointment

for our historian, as well as funding to support digitization efforts (15 hours a week)

Next Steps:

In Phase Two of the project, we will:– Create a comprehensive finding aid with more description

and context, possibly down to folder level– Translate select documents of historical significance– Digitize select documents for online exhibit to be published

on SCU library website (and elsewhere?)– Work with a local book conservator to complete rehousing

of specific manuscripts into custom enclosures

Next Steps (Part 2):

“Brown Bag” presentation about the MSC Project for SCU librarians and staff, faculty and students

Possible article? Possible exhibit?

Images of the Collection

Images of the Collection

It’s Up!