At this point I have been working with the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation since the 7th. It has been a great couple weeks so far. I am working on a collection of a plethora of the foundation’s records. It is my job to get boxes on boxes of paper organized into different series, sub-series, and folders that correspond to a google doc to keep track of it all. In fact, one of the most challenging things in the end of my project will be how to decide to actually organize everything after I have it all of the records in their respective folders. I need to figure out how it would best make sense to navigate once the collection ends up in its home in the Virginia Room archives. Each piece of paper in each folder must be arranged chronologically and if there is any kind of staple or paper clip on the paper it must be removed and replaced with a small strip of paper and a new paper clip over it to keep those together. If there is a photograph or a news article it is my job to photocopy that and preserve the photograph in a special sleeve. Those photographs have a series of their own, and have their own specific markings that I must write on the back that correspond to the digitized portion of the collection I mentioned earlier for the convenience of researchers in the future. It may sound a little complicated, but I finally have it down. My supervisor says it is enough work to keep an intern busy for 3-4 months, due to the size of the collection, but I am making headway and hope to see it all the way through or get very close by the end of my time with the Preservation Foundation. I am doing all of my work in the Gainsboro Public Library, which is chalk full of history in itself. It is a beautiful building and makes for great surroundings while I am working on the collection.
I was supposed to also produce a series of videos highlighting people in our community who have saved historical sights from demolition. However, due to COVID we have removed that part of my project to keep both me and the subjects of my would have been interviews safe. I certainly have enough on my plate without this project, but I do regret not being able to meet avid preservationists through the interviews I was supposed to do. Things are going great so far working on the collection, and I can’t wait to see how much I accomplish!