Processing small collections from start to finish

We have several small collections which have been donated. An Archival intern can work with our Local History Librarian to gain experience of the full process from intake to completion, including assessment of condition, rehousing, creation of a finding aid, digitization (if appropriate), cataloguing, and perhaps developing a plan for display or social media promotion of the collection (if warranted).

We can start with one collection, and move on to another if there is still time in the semester. Here are three such collections just waiting for the right intern:

- The Francis M. Lightbody papers, which consists of two archival cartons of paper materials. These papers may need some preservation work based on our initial assessment.
- The Living History Project, Watertown 1900-1980 (1982 library NEH project) includes multiple boxes of papers, as well as a box of cassettes with oral histories. This would be a good candidate for digitization and then upload to the library's ContentDM platform.
- Donation from Patrick George of Watertown's Veterans records, as well as a file from John Corbett, a former veterans affairs coordinator in Watertown. This is smaller collection, so would not likely fill a semester on its own, but would be an excellent supplemental project.

The WFPL has a detailed Processing Manual to guide interns through our best practices, and they would work in close consultation with our Local History Librarian and the Department Supervisor.