Materials are moving in to the new University Archives and Special Collections space at Cowles Library. The new, 6,000 sq. ft. area includes a large climate-controlled storage unit for archival preservation. Special Collections materials — which include artifacts from Drake’s history and many rare and unique documents and items — have been scattered throughout the Library in file cabinets, boxes and “piles o’ stuff.” The new area will also hold the papers of Senator Tom Harkin and be the site of a mass digitization project for the papers of Iowa Governor Robert Ray. Not everything will move today, but it’s an important milestone for the Library and Drake University. Here’s a few pictures:
Workmen from Siddall Moving are handling the heavy work of moving fully loaded file cabinets.
Many archival materials are stored in special, acid-free boxes.
Archives/Special Collections staff members Claudia Frazer and Kathy Lincoln evaluate some of the many ‘non-print’ items in the Archives.
Kathy Lincoln, Digital Metadata Specialist and Kevin Protzmann, student assistant and a senior majoring in History & Politics, examine some of the archival materials newly moved into University Archives and Special Collections.