On Thu, 26 Oct 2023 09:43:33 -0600 Christoff, Alexandra V. wrote
Hello Gaye Lyn,
I’m sorry for the gap of time between your email and my response. I
needed to speak to our Library Director, to discuss our options. We’ve
had several chats about your request since receiving your email at the
beginning of the month. It is the policy of the University Archives to
preserve Embry-Riddle’s institutional memory by collecting historical
materials related to the university, our alumni, faculty and staff. So,
taking your research into our collection would fall outside of our
policy. However, two factors have opened up a case for us to take
Veterans Air materials: we recently acquired the physical APA donation
materials from Sally and (as you say) your research was heavily
influenced by ERAU faculty and resources. So, we are open to the idea
of adding the Veterans Air research to our Archives, but we do need some
questions answered before we can move on from a more “theoretical”
discussion.
I want to mention your website first thing because it is the biggest
question for me. Have you begun the process of preserving it with either
the Wayback Machine or through the Newark Archives? We are not in a
position to cover a website’s hosting fees long term and any
preservation of the site done on our part would result in something
static and unchanging. It would also potentially require us to change
the way it looks. Your website is fantastic. It’s professional and
overflowing with information. Sadly, we cannot take on maintenance or
hosting.
However, if what you are looking for is a caretaker for the digital
files, physical objects, and media you have collected – whether it has
been included on your website or not – we are open to accepting the
materials of your research. If possible, we’d need to have a rough idea
of what the research consists of. General or best guesses are fine,
these questions are to help us understand the physical/digital space we
will need to accommodate your collection.
- How many digital files do you have?
- What is the total file size of your digital material (MB/GB)?
- How much physical material do you have?
- How much physical space does it take up? (3 large moving boxes/1 book
shelf 4 ft long) - What kinds of materials have you collected? (Audiocassettes, scrapbooks,
print photographs, pdfs, jpeg, tiff) - What percentage of your collection is duplicates or alternative formats
of material? (Example: you’ve conducted an oral interview and the end
result is an audiocassette. You make a digital file of that interview to
post on your website. The digital file is an alternative format for the
oral interview audiocassette, and looking only at those two items, you’d
have a 1:1 ratio of alternative format materials.
We are all flattered you feel ERAU would be a good home for your
research , but I completely understand if you need to think about it or
reach out to other institutions to see what they can do for you and your
research, especially now that you are aware of our limitations. If the
Museum in San Diego is in a better place to accept both the research
materials and maintain the website, be assured, we will have nothing but
congratulations and well wishes for you.
A large part of me feels like this might have been better as a
conversation over the phone.
Best,
Alex
Alexandra Christoff, MA, MSI
Archives Librarian
Hunt Library
1 Aerospace Boulevard
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Florida | Arizona | Worldwide
——————————————————————————–
From “Gaye Lyn”
To “CHRISA22”
Date 10/29/2023 12:48:24 PM
Subject Re: [EXTERNAL] Archive for the Veterans Air story
Good Sunday morning to you, Alex,
…
This shall be a Cliff Notes-like response to get us started…
Foremost is my delight at even having this “theoretical” exploration.
Then you go and make it even more gratifying by your mention of my
reaching out to other institutions depending on circumstances. Thank
you.
Some 30,000′-level input and/or questions:
- Wayback Machine or the Newark Archives Project. I have not begun
process with either. If I correctly grasp Wayback’s function, I feel I
need to add source citations to my website first. Although adding a few
completed pages would be instructional. With the Newark Archives
Project, their scope is enormous and not easy to grasp. I need to
approach Gail Malmgreen again to discuss the compatibility of the
Veterans Air story to their collections. - Static and unchanging format of archives.
- I do not expect the archivest to maintain the website. A static form
is, I believe, Wayback’s function, which I expect to provide. - I do, however, hope to keep the website live for a period of time if it
doesn’t conflict with the archived data. It doesn’t cost me much and it
may be advantageous even if I add nothing further.
- I do not expect the archivest to maintain the website. A static form
- Access to data. My learning curve of archival functions is bent
backwards – and not just for Embry-Riddle’s materials. I feel I could
learn best by explaining what I’m hoping for. That, in turn, might help
me properly answer your general physical/digital questions.- I am hoping that the research will “be available” in some form –
physical or searchable – to students or historians who may have no
knowledge of or interest in Veterans Air and/or the Non-sked era. The
site includes many people, places, aircraft and subjects that will
surface via proper SEO. - While I certainly do not expect the archive researchers will add to the
Veterans Air story, that would be glorious, and I would welcome contact
from anyone.
- I am hoping that the research will “be available” in some form –
Again, thank you, Alex. I don’t know what physical APA donation
materials are, but I’m grateful for them!
My best,
g.
Gaye Lyn
Daughter of Founder, Saunie Gravely
Veterans Air Express & Veterans Air Line
veteransair.org/