[MOA2-WP:29] Re: MOA2-William Henry Jackson diaries

Ross Atkinson (ra13@cornell.edu)
Tue, 9 Jun 1998 14:20:43 -0700 (PDT)

I don't think there's a right answer to this question. It depends in part
upon what we think MoAII is trying to accomplish--and by this point we're
all probably looking at it slightly differently. My feeling (and I know
this isn't going to help) is that, if our goal is to test and demonstrate
how we provide access to distributed special collections materials, then I
think I'd rather see the field notes digitized as an example of a format we
will ultimately need to come to terms with. If--on the other hand--the
field notes are not really scannable, i.e., if the results are not really
usuable--then obviously the typescript would be preferable.
---Ross

At 09:18 6/9/98 -0700, you wrote:
>
> MOAII participants:
>
> A question has arisen regarding the emphasis that should be placed on
> the representation of the physical object within the framework of the
> MOAII White Paper. NYPL's William Henry Jackson diaries exist in both
> their original form as field notes, and in typescript form, which was
> also produced by Jackson at a later date.
>
> The typescript is far easier to read (the field notes are in pencil
> and Jackson's handwriting is difficult to read at best) and is, upon
> inspection, transcribed almost verbatim from the original field notes.
>
> If full text retrieval is warranted, the question as to whether images
> of the original field notes or the typescript should be represented in
> image form has come up. References to the intended Digital Object
> Model seem to place an emphasis on navigation within the text based on
> methods and relevant behaviors. Thus, since the typescript will be
> rekeyed, we are wondering if the scans of the diaries are necessary
> for the intended purposes of the project. Is physical representation
> an issue here or are we mostly concerned with methodology?
>
> Anthony Troncale
> Associate Head, Digital Unit
> Preservation Division
> New York Public Library
> (212) 930-0821
> atroncale@nypl.org
>
___________________________________
Ross Atkinson
Deputy University Librarian
201 Olin Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-5301

telephone: (607) 255-3393
fax: (607) 255-6788