Disability Studies & Museums Studies Together in the Sandbox, Ruth Starr

In the past several weeks, I’ve come to look at my research as the intersection of disability and museum studies. For this reason, the resources I’ve found are largely situated in both fields. I have been able to divide my findings into some general categories, which will help continue to inform the evolution of the project.

Disability Studies: Changing the Dialogue from All Angles

 In the realm of disability studies, I’ve primarily been interested in understanding the mindset and attitudes of the general public surrounding the construct of disability, accessibility, and inclusion. This category of research is further segmented between the academic research looking at psychological and sociological issues around the general public’s conceptualization of disability compared to the cultural studies generated from the advocacy community. These multitudes of perspectives will allow the project to present a more holistic literature review of the current studies, and cultural values related to improving access within institutions. Specifically, I’ve discovered several tactics for analyzing the general public’s understanding of individuals with disabilities. Using psychological tests such as the Implicit Association Test, projective questioning, and anonymity, I have gained insights for the creation of a survey instrument which will be able to target honest answers on discrimination, equality, and perception of disability.[1]

Additionally, I’ve further developed an understanding to the paradigm shift within the disability community from the deficit to social model of disability, and how the American’s with Disabilities Act and further legislation play a role in supporting equality or limiting access efforts. [2]

Museum Practice: Evolution of Cultural Institution Accessibility Efforts

In this area of research, I’ve been able to identify the “best practices” over time that museums have created in effort to create inclusion for diverse audiences. One of the challenges in collecting material in this subject area is locating resources created by members of the disability community.[3] Guidelines have been created by professional organizations, such as the American Alliance of Museums, but the perspective of individuals with disabilities is seldom presented in the literature. Over time, researchers / practitioners  have argued for various models to develop inclusion, which were implemented in different ways within cultural institutions. In contemporary museum practice, we see a partnership model, transparency, and open dialogues as current developing trends.[4]

Looking Forward: Continued Project Development

After a workshop with the Human Subjects Research Office, it seems that my project, in the state I’ve conceptualized it, will go through the IRB process. I am currently organizing the resources I’ve collected and writing an abstract for the project. Additionally, I am giving consideration to the scope of the project in the time frame of the remaining year. I am interested to see how the project continues to evolve as I move forward with the research process.

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[1] Ostapczuk, Martin, and Jochen Musch. “Estimating the Prevalence of Negative Attitudes towards People with Disability: A Comparison of Direct Questioning, Projective Questioning and Randomized Response.” Disability & Rehabilitation Vol. 33, no. 5 (March 2011): 399–411. 

[2] Emens, Elizabeth F. “Disabling Attitudes: US Disability Law and the ADA Amendments Act” The American Journal of Comparative Law. Vol 60, no 1 (2012): p. 205 – 233.

[3] Cachia, Amanda. “Talking Blind: Disability, Access, and the Discursive Turn.”Disability Studies Quarterly Vol. 33, no. 3 (2013).

[4] American Alliance of Museums (Producer), 2015, “Stories of Inclusion: Inclusive Practices at    Cultural Institutions”.

Research Update

Since starting my research I have learned a lot. My research at this time is consisting of biographic information of Aldus Manutius, history of the 15th century printing industry in Venice, and basic printing history of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. The rest of my sources so far are about how the book was used in the 15th century which is where my reader response research will begin. I still need to do extensive research on reader response. I also need to start research on digital imaging and multispectral imaging of printed books. I will be reaching out to Roger Easton fairly soon so that we can image the hand-colored pages. I am hoping the results can tell us the material the pigments are made of and from that I am hoping we can get a date range. If anyone has suggestions on where to start please let me know! 

In other exciting news - Steven and I were able to determine the owner of the book before Melbert Cary acquired it in 1932 based off of a bookplate that was stuck on the inner board. 

Meeting With Becky - The Mark Ellingson Collection

So I recently met with Becky Simmons at the RIT Archives to talk to her about the Mark Ellingson collection. The collection is a large and old one in the archives and it hasn't had much done with it since it moved into the storage area. Becky gave me a copy of a preliminary list of what is contained in the large collection of 37 boxes, 25 scrapbooks made by Mark Ellingson, 7 scrapbooks made by his wife Marcia Ellingson, as well as miscellaneous albums and notebooks, framed awards/certificates, framed drawings, prints and photographs and Mark Ellingson's cap and gown.

However a lot more needs to be done with the collection. There are many papers and objects in the boxes of the collection have very little if anything to do with Mark Ellingson such as wedding photos, vacation photos, school photos, and other similar personal paraphernalia that don't have any outward connection to the former president. There are also many books that were just part of the collection when it was brought in that also have no outward connection to RIT or Mark Ellingson that could be removed to make more space. Becky wants me to look through the collection and weed out these unrelated materials as well as any personal financial information and other personal stuff that shouldn't be kept in a public archive. Becky also wants to open up a dialog with the aging donors of this collection to see if they want any of the personal and family related items that don't belong with the collection, as they seem like something that the family may want back to remember previous generations.

The other major part of this project will be rehousing the 32 scrapbooks in the collection. Currently the scrapbooks, which contain newspaper clippings and other paper scraps important to Mark and Marcia Ellingson, are housed in cheap plastic sleeves in their books. Becky would like the pages of the scrapbooks to be removed and rehoused into nice Mylar sleeves instead to make sure that the cheap plastic can't harm the scrapbooks.

Deaf Studies Library and Archive

National Deaf Studies Library and Archive Consortium is one of existing research models that i am currently working on. Consortium was designed to promote and develop resources for its members and to provide access to digital resources to documentation of Deaf experience, Cultures and histories for research and learning.  Same time, the National Deaf Studies Library and Archive Consortium is still in process of additional support with grants and interviewing facilities to manage the consortium.  The process of authorization of ownership, copyright and grant application is still new to me and i find it really interesting.

There are other existing models under certain groups but often issues occurs on these models (ex: Upgrade, update and/or in the transition of changing platforms). These models allowed me to do more research on which online platform is best as permanent use for digital library without any issues / concerns of changing platforms and providing more staff training. Also, to research more about range of service and collaborated projects using three-tiered infrastructure of three  type of partners (full-service hubs, Hosting hubs, and collection partners).

This research process had led me to meet several individuals who work in these field and two of them became my advisors for my thesis. I have selected Mary Beth Kiztel as my primary advisor and Joan naturale as my secondary advisor.

Death & the Dark

         Possibly one of the most fascinating things I'm finding within my research is how much or how little death really has to do with Dark Tourism. While it may be called something else--grief tourism, prison tourism, ghost tourism--it still falls under the Dark Tourism umbrella. A site does not need to have death to be within it. Stress, harsh punishments, disaster, all of these can be what the site entails. If it is outfitted for entertainment or tourism purposes, it uses its darkness for just that, Dark Tourism.
         Prisons are very popular here, and while my thesis pertains specifically to places of violent death, I will be talking about the relation of just darkness and the death itself. Darkness manifests itself from any place where suffering takes place. This does not even have to be from human suffering, but animal suffering as well. Even used items can take up a feeling of 'darkness' have you ever been to a junk-yard or archives after hours? A human impression and past can leave a lasting 'atmosphere' on an object.

Research Question, M.Fanton

I am working on the topic of obsolete electronic storage media because...I want to find out the rates in which obsolescence occurs for various types of media in a comparative study...in order to develop a cost an labor analysis that will inform museum and archive professionals about the optimum time frame in which to create preservation copies of existing storage media in their collections.

Based on this (run-on) statement, I have developed a research question:

Are there obsolescence models and patterns that can predict the optimum time frame in which to actively preserve (that is, to make archival copies of) aging storage media, so that archives and museums can take a proactive rather than reactive approach to their preservation?

Dr. Carroll had a series of follow up questions, such as:

1. What is the existing research?
2. Does the existing research need to be updated?
3. Are there exiting models?
4. Will I (the researcher and writer) be providing a series of recommendations?

In class we discussed the potential applications of this research, in which I expressed a desire to take a practical approach rather than a conceptual (only) approach. This will have an effect on my research methodologies and how I design possible recommendations.

In order to proceed, I will need to read current research papers, articles, and books in the field, as well as contact museum professionals at institutions with electronic media in their collections. Dr. Carroll recommended contacting Rebecca Simmons at the RIT Archives. 

I may narrow my research to a specific type of media (audio recordings, for example). Although my initial interest was in the preservation of floppy discs (PC games) and video game cartridges, this presents the additional challenge of confronting the tangled webs of intellectual property and copyright law associated with them. I have decided to take a different path so that my research will apply to a broader range of institutions (collections) and increase its potential future use. 

Code 42 software company has put together the following infographic for their Crashplan web site (an online data backup service?). Not only does it illustrate my topic, it also contains sources for me to further explore (at the bottom), and points to other considerations I will have to address such as the storage of storage media (conditions) and usage (used regularly or barely touched?).

I am not endorsing this service, but this presents an example of a form my research might take.

Mark Ellingson Collection

So instead of working on the other projects I was considering earlier I'm planning on working with the Mark Ellingson Collection in the RIT Archives. Mark Ellingson was the fifth president of RIT and was president during some very important changes in the institution, namely the move from downtown Rochester to the Henrietta campus as well as when NTID became part of the institute. However I have not yet had a chance to check out the collection to really get a grasp as to what I will be working with. I have an appointment with the archivist Becky Simmons but until I actually get to see the materials I'll be working with and what I'll be doing with them I'm just not quite certain of the trajectory of my project. At this point I need to do more research on the presidency of Mark Ellingson to help me generate ideas leading up to my visit to the Archives.

Senior Thesis: Eleanor Roosevelt and Prospects of Mankind

During my internship in Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, I found many interesting facts about Eleanor Roosevelt and her fervent interests in world affairs. Not only that, but she also had published more than 8,000 columns, 580 articles, 27 books, 100,000 letters, delivering over 1000 speeches, and appearing on more than 300 radio and television shows, which the Prospects of Mankind is one of their shows.

For those who do not know what the Prospects of Mankind is, This monthly series show, first aired on WGBH in October 1959, was not only a forum for leaders and decision makers to discuss the issues with Eleanor as mediator and host but also a rare assemblage of some of the most distinguished figures of the 20^th century.

Furthermore, the documentary record of her work is invaluable because it resonates with powerful examples of policies, debates and implementation strategies essential to contemporary discussions of democratic values and human rights policies.

I realized, to my disbelief, that her voice has been silenced, her vision and influence shrouded in stereotype or confined to obscure footnotes. In order to spread her voice and vision as well as the Prospects of Mankind, I intend to create an actual exhibition; somewhat, I have to focus on the questions concerning the reflection of her work on the current issues and the visitor engagement;

·      How can an interactive history/politic exhibition engage visitors ESPECIALLY kids in meaningful ways?

·      Will the stories reflect the current issues and people that have been marginalized by mainstream society?

That's what it looked like when I worked on my blog last night. Ha.

A working research question on Historic Brewing in Rochester

As I've continued my research, and thought about what I want to do with my thesis paper, I've wavered back and forth, and gone up and down on what I want the scope of my paper to be. Do I focus on specific aspects of historic brewing, or do a certain time period, or the cultural aspects of it, or even all of the above. So I've started to craft a very influx research question for this paper. What were the historic limitations and opportunities of brewers in Rochester during the early 1800s, and what bearing this has on modern brewing culture in Rochester?

The primary mash tun at the GCVM

I feel that a research question along this line allows me to look at both the cultural, and agricultural aspects of historic brewing, both of which I'm interested in, while also being able to connect it with modern brewing practices like 'farm breweries' which share similar limitations with their ancestors from 200 years ago.  

Fashion, Gender Roles, Oh My! A Further Look at My Thesis Topic

          The evolution of women’s fashion in the 20^th century has always been of interest to me. I have researched extensively on the different avenues my thesis could potentially take. However, upon meeting with Dr. Lent and discussing my proposal, I have further defined my lens for examining fashion and its historical ties. We discussed how women are represented in the media as well as other mediums and how various fashions were associated with a variety of statuses. Some of these statuses include “the working woman”, “the single woman”, and “the young and married woman”. For my thesis, my working research question is: In what ways does fashion and how it is represented in different mediums reflect women’s roles in American society over the span of the 1920s through 1980s?

An advertisement for Mulsified Shampoo circa the 1920's suggesting that a young woman's role in society was to be aesthetically appealing to others.  (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/484066659919696877/) 

        I believe that after World War I, there is a cultural shift in women’s roles as well as a movement to adopt more contemporary fashion styles. I will still be using the source material of Vogue magazines as well as a few other magazines housed in the RIT Archives. Along with my thesis, I may include a virtual exhibition on Wordpress to document social issues of these times and their significance to the respective clothing and women’s roles. I will also compare and contrast decades to one another.

         I am incredibly honored that Dr. Lent, the director of RIT’s Museum Studies program and a professor in the Department of Performing Arts and Visual Culture, has agreed to serve as my primary advisor to my thesis. My next steps in regards to my thesis are to find my secondary thesis advisor and research potential books and journals to gather pertinent information for my thesis. I am looking forward to developing my thesis further and diving into my research.