Unit 1 - The Collection

So, I have decided to use this semester's primary project as an excellent opportunity to test out how the Rockefeller Archive Center's first large scale digitization project works in a variety of digital repository systems. The RAC digitized approximately 91,000 pages of Rockefeller Foundation Officer Diaries that had been previously microfilmed for preservation purposes. The Diaries offer fascinating details documenting the philanthropic efforts of the Rockefeller Foundation and the daily work of Foundation representatives across the globe. Although the digitization and OCR work is complete, the RAC is still investigating software options for the web delivery of the diaries and assessing the level and standardized form of description needed. For this project, I will be using a sample of diaries and also portraits of five Foundation officers. Permission has already been given by the Rockefeller Foundation for online public access to the materials. As for access terms, these will vary greatly depending on the geographic location and philanthropic area each officer is assigned to. Field Offices were maintained from India to Paris to Mexico and field operations conducted including tropical disease research, preventative medicine and nutrition, child and public health, and agriculture.