The document outlines policies for appraising, collecting, preserving, and providing access to the Gorgas Photograph Collection at the University of Alabama. It will evaluate photographs based on their historical value, uniqueness, costs to maintain, available space, and relevance to the Confederacy during the Civil War. The collection seeks to acquire various types of photographic material from that era to promote education and research through digitization and making the items available to researchers. Policies address conservation standards, treatments, environmental controls, handling, and limiting access to the physical materials while sharing digital copies more broadly.

1. The Gorgas Photograph Collection Amanda Butler Jeremy Myntti Sarah Thornburg

2. Appraisal Policy This appraisal plan will evaluate each item for the Gorgas Photograph Collection using the following guidelines: Historical value: Does this item have potential to contribute to historical scholarship? Rareness: Is this item unique in some way? Cost: Are there sufficient funds to properly maintain this item short term and long term? Space: Is there sufficient space to properly store this item? This appraisal plan will generally be an item-level evaluation of the potential photographs to be included. One potential exception includes when entire collections are donated - undesirable photographs might be accepted should other photographs in said collection meet the appraisal guidelines.

3. Collection Statement of Purpose The Gorgas Collection is an archive within the University of Alabama. As an institution of higher learning, it is our goal to promote education and research through the availability of historical photographs of Civil War Confederate soldiers. Digitization of this collection will streamline the research process and make the collection available to those unable to visit the archive. The Gorgas Collection seeks to acquire photographic material which is historical in nature relating to the Confederate States of America from the Civil War Era. The archive will normally accept all forms of photographic material, including but not limited to dagguereotypes, ambrotypes, cyanotypes, ferrotypes, tintypes, glass plate negatives, etc.

4. Collection PolicyPrograms Items generally will be located within one of the University Libraries at the University of Alabama for use by researchers interested in furthering the knowledge of the history of the Confederacy during the mid-nineteenth century. Select material can be made available for expositions and displays throughout Alabama, with preference going to Civil War conventions and historical conferences.

5. Collection PolicyPriorities and Limitations The Gorgas Photograph Collection aims to collect a select type of material: photographs related to the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. The majority of this collection will be made up of Dagguereotypes Ambrotypes Cyanotypes Tintypes Glass plate negatives Carte-de-visites Cabinet cards Stereograph cards However, the collection might also include other items, such as the necessary equipment to view the photographs or examples of the equipment that was required to produce a photograph during the Confederacy’s era.

6. Collection PolicyCooperative Agreements The Gorgas Photograph Collection will belong to the same consortia as the University Libraries and follow the same rules. However, the Gorgas Photograph Collection will not circulate, even within the consortia. All consortia members will have the same access to the collection as student and faculty members.

7. Collection PolicyClientele Anyone with an interest in photographs taken in the American South during Civil War; however, individuals not identified as students or faculty of the university or a member of a consortia which the library belongs to must indicate their reason for accessing the collection.

8. Collection PolicyResource Sharing Resource made available digitally may be shared and used by anyone outside of the university or consortia system, but use of the physical material may be limited.

9. Collection PolicyDeaccessioning During the appraisal process, the value of the item will be determined. Should the item be found appropriate for the purpose of the collection, it is the intention to preserve it permanently.

10. Collection PolicyFunding University Budget Grants Fundraising

11. Conservation Policy

12. Section 1. Concept & Responsibility Principles of preventative conservation Standards, treatments, environment, handling, and access Responsibility Ongoing conservation

13. Section 2. Conservation Standards Displaying, handling, and storing Continual education

14. Section 3. Conservation Treatments Completed by conservators Only one certain items Doesn’t meet criteria Unnecessary conservation Match original Reversible reconstruction Full documentation Adverse effect Health or safety risks

15. Section 4. Environmental Controls Environmentally sound rooms Constantly monitored No overcrowding Temperature Relative humidity Circulating air No windows Low-watt lights Monitor for pests

16. Section 5. Care and Handling Appropriate methods of handling Monitor patrons Health hazards Identify hazardous materials Overcrowding Disaster recovery plan Prevent disasters

17. Section 6. Controlled Access Video surveillance Controlled access

18. Preservation Policy

19. Section 1. Concept and Responsibility of Preservation Preservation goal Physical and digital collections Different needs Preservation definition Responsibility

20. Section 2. Digital Preservation Standards File formats Resolution Color depth Access images Equipment

21. Section 3. Preservation Treatments All items Unnecessary preservation

22. Section 4. Digital Data Management Data integrity Virus fixity checks Multiple storage places Refresh data Back-up

23. Section 5. Disaster Prevention and Recovery Disaster prevention plan Disaster recovery plan

24. Section 6. Research and Development Emerging technologies Continual education

25. Finding Aid Descriptive Summary Repository - University Archives, University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa Title - Gorgas Photograph Collection, 1860-1865 Language of Material - English Extent - 30 items Abstract - The Gorgas Collection is an archive within the University of Alabama that seeks to acquire photographic material which is historical in nature relating to the Confederate States of America from the Civil War era.

26. Finding Aid Administrative Information Access Restrictions Physical Access Technical Access Copyright Notice Provenance Processing Information

27. Finding AidCollection Inventory 30 items, stored in two boxes to prevent over-crowding

28. Public Memory The Gorgas Photograph Collection strives to collect images of the losing side of the American Civil War.

29. Gorgas Photograph Collection, 1860-1865 Questions?