Rachel "Ivy" Clarke

"Preservation of Mixed-Format Archival Collections: A Case Study of the Ann Getty Fashion Collection at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising." This case study appears in The American Archivist, vol. 72 no.1, p.185-196, Spring/Summer 2009.

Abstract

As archival collections incorporate wider varieties of materials, the complexity of preserving them increases proportionately. Juxtapositions of mixed-format materials create artifactual and intrinsic value that is lost if the materials are separated for format-specific preservation. This paper examines the Ann Getty Fashion Collection, a collection of designer materials at the Library at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and discusses challenges and options for its preservation. Physical condition, usage, and resources are considered in arriving at the most efficient balance of preservation actions.