These slides go over some of my work done as an archival intern at Green-Wood Cemetery.

1. Balancing Access + Preservation in an
Emerging Archive
Alexandra Farrugia’s Practicum Project: Green-Wood Cemetery Archive

2. Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive

3. Project Identification
Project: Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive
Student: Alexandra Farrugia
Course: LIS698 Practicum Summer 2014
Site Supervisor: Archivist Anthony Cucchiara
Project Site: Green-Wood Cemetery Archive
Instructor: Dr.Tula Giannini

4. Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive
Abstract: To process collections and create finding
aids for input of information into Archon. My duties
in digital archiving and scanning/photographing of
historical records encompass both access and
preservation.

5. Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive

6. Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive
Nature of Work
Founded in 1838 and now a National Historic Landmark, Green-Wood was one of the first rural cemeteries in America. By the
early 1860s, it had earned an international reputation for its magnificent beauty and became the prestigious place to be
buried, attracting 500,000 visitors a year, second only to Niagara Falls as the nation’s greatest tourist attraction. Crowds flocked
there to enjoy family outings, carriage rides, and sculpture viewing in the finest of first generation American landscapes.
Green-Wood’s popularity helped inspire the creation of public parks, including New York City’s Central and Prospect Parks.
My work at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archive encompassed both Access + Preservation. Processing collections, creating
finding aids, and inputting data into Archon is a vital step towards the access of information. Digitizing historical records has
contributed to both preservation and access.The digital records are copies of their original and are much easier to access and
obtain across departments.
Preservation requires access but access isn’t
enough to ensure preservation.

7. Journaling my Experience at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archive
Collections Processed:
!
Grave Selection Receipts (1849-1857),
Land Conveyances (1825-1937),
Real Estate Investments (1894-1944),
Legal Correspondence (1848-1903),
Ida Mellen Green-Wood Cemetery Scrapbook (1927-1954),
Land Title Abstracts (1891-1908),
Tax Records (1922-1955)

8. Journaling my Experience at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archive

9. Sample Series: Grave Selection Receipts (1849-1857)
Scope: This collection contains handwritten receipts confirming the selection of specific cemetery lots by lot
owners or their estates. Grave receipts verify the purchase of cemetery lots &/or single graves, identifying
individual or group to be buried. Each receipt contains the name of lot owner(s), address, and location of lot. In
some instances, receipts can also indicate lots or single graves issued in the name of a particular individual or
group of individuals bequeathed by a purchaser or executor as part of an estate.Additional information may
include profession, lot diagrams, refusals, and payment information.When individuals were unable to purchase
the lot themselves, their heir or estate is named in lieu of the intended lot owner. [These documents can be
especially significant to individuals conducting genealogical research.]
Abstract: This collection of Grave Selection Receipts identifies lot owners &/or their estates
and can be useful to individuals conducting genealogical research relating to Green-Wood
Cemetery from the years 1849 to 1857.
Arrangement: Boxes arranged by year. Folders are arranged chronologically by month.
Materials within the folders are arranged alphabetically by last name. [Extent: 6 Archival
Boxes]

10. Journaling my Experience at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archive

11. Journaling my Experience at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archive
Challenges:
Processing archival collections requires a certain degree of
familiarity.At Green-Wood Cemetery Archive this comes with
certain challenges.There are two obstacles I was faced with
throughout my work at Green-Wood.
#1. Distinguishing Handwritten Documents
#2. Understanding Formal/Legal Documents

12. Balancing Access + Preservation in an Emerging Archive

13. Digital Perspectives
Access to data tomorrow
requires decisions
concerning preservation
today.
The archival system used by Green-Wood Cemetery is Archon. Perhaps the
biggest issue is Archons recent merge with ArchivesSpace. Integration to the new
system has not started due to the infancy of the archive at Green-Wood and the
question of whether or not conversion will disrupt the system already in place.
Archon is just another example of digital
obsolescence and makes it easier to
understand why archives still practice
microfilming original documents.

14. Next Steps…
#1. Finish required 100hrs of field work end of week 8/15.
#2. Obtain evaluation
#3. Publish blog of journal entries.