Working at the North Dakota State Archives means interacting with our collections on every level. Our team of archivists processes incoming materials, often becoming experts on each collection they touch. Our reference team uses these collections to assist others in access and research, learning many tidbits along the way. Through scanning, skimming, and handling the documentary pages and files of our collections, our staff loves to acquire new knowledge about the many significant things that have happened in our state. Learn more about some of the cool collections staff have recently acquired or rediscovered below!

Lindsay Meidinger, deputy state archivist

Did you know the State Archives boasts nearly 10 miles of paper records and a staggering 56 terabytes of electronic records? With so many fascinating collections just steps away, it is quite hard to choose just one to feature in this blog post. So I decided to put my decision in the hands of a random number generator. The result? Folder 2 of Box 4, State Series 31530.

A plain brown box in the State Archives stacks contains information related to the agency’s past educational outreach efforts.

What’s inside this unassuming box? It details the activities of the State Historical Society of North Dakota’s education team! These records chronicle over 120 years of educational events and programming, revealing how history has been presented and shared across generations. This specific folder contains programs from 1989.

Box 4, Folder 2 features programs of educational events and symposiums from 1989.

One might wonder, “Why preserve this?” Well, these documents offer insights for researchers and staff, providing a look at the evolution of outreach and programming by highlighting popular topics, types of interactions, and collective memories. This information helps our current education team build on past projects.

Virginia Bjorness, head of technical services

Earlier this year, the State Archives received four digital publications from Michael Gustafson, all relating to the early history of Portal, North Dakota, and the Lanthorn family. Included in the quartet is a short booklet by Wesley C. Engstrom, titled “Merna's Penny Bank.” This digital booklet documents the struggles of the Union Bank of Portal during the 1920s and the tragic death of the bank manager, who had gifted the penny bank to Merna Lanthorn. Engstrom also includes excerpts from The International, the newspaper serving the Portal area at the time, along with pictures of the recently restored bank interior.

SHSND SA OCLC 1417163131

Emily Kubischta, manuscript archivist

The State Archives recently received the records of the Monday Club, a study club for Bismarck women that has operated since 1902 (MSS 11655). In addition to researching and presenting on assigned topics, club women made charitable contributions and worked to make Bismarck stronger. Even though the Monday Club bylaws set a limit capping membership at 20, the club women have a long list of contributions. Some of these include raising funds for the Sakakawea statue on the state Capitol grounds, assisting with the first state sale of Red Cross stamps, advocating for public health by asking for funding for a state tuberculosis sanatorium site and securing the first nurse for Bismarck schools, preparing the first MASH unit locally that was then replicated during World War I, and adopting a French orphan (for one year) after World War I. Included in the records is an album of photographs of the homes of early Monday Club members (early 1900s) and the homes of members in 2002. This album documents some of the historic residences in Bismarck, ties owners to the homes, and demonstrates the continuity of the organization through its many years of active service to the community.

Letters and a postcard photograph to members concerning the adoption of French orphan Marc Régnier in 1919. SHSND SA MSS 11655

The historic residences photograph album shows significant Bismarck homes of the time. SHSND SA MSS 11655

Larissa Harrison, state government archivist

You never know what information you will uncover in some collections. State Series 32566 is part of the Department of Transportation’s records. However, this series, covering the district of Grand Forks, includes letters of recommendations from the North Dakota Democratic and Republican parties from the 1930s to 1940s, reflecting the political cronyism of the period.

Greta Beck, audiovisual archivist

One of my favorite home movie collections at the State Archives was filmed by Clayton Maw who documented his family's everyday life and important moments in and around Kidder County from 1949 to 1970—all on 8 mm film. His films cover a wide variety of family milestones like weddings, birthday parties, and graduations, as well as more everyday events like reshingling a barn, stunt car races, harvesting a field, and playing cards.

Maw loved farming and had a passion for airplanes, hunting, and traveling with his family. These interests are visible in the footage he captured of hunting scenes, family vacations, the Bismarck Air Show, and aerial shots from an airplane of Bismarck and the Garrison Dam. Home movies tell a very personal story through the perspective of a family and give the viewer a more intimate look at what life was like when the films were made.

This still from Clayton Maw’s 8 mm film shows young children and a dog helping out on a family farm in Kidder County, circa 1955. SHSND SA MSS 11375-00001

3D scanning allows for the preservation of artifacts in digital form, safeguarding them against physical deterioration or damage. 3D modeling can be used to preserve digital replicas of delicate, rare, and ancient artifacts, enabling the storage and study of objects in far greater detail than traditional 2D images (Eve 2018; Garstki 2016; Graham 2012; Younan and Treadway 2015). In cases where artifacts suffer damage, the stored 3D digital model can assist in the restoration and repair of the affected parts. Conservationists can use digital models to plan and execute precise restoration work without directly handling the original, ensuring its protection (Eve 2018; Graham 2012).

The author 3D scans a pottery sherd from On-A-Slant Village near Mandan.

Digital archives can expand access to archaeological materials, with 3D scanning serving as a pivotal tool for museums to enhance the accessibility of their collections (Garstki 2016). By uploading 3D scans to websites, a virtual display can be fashioned, reaching viewers across the globe (Eve 2018; Graham 2012). This approach allows researchers, students, and the public to remotely explore collections, thereby democratizing access to knowledge. These models may enhance the research process, offering improved accessibility, detailed analysis, collaborative opportunities, and the capacity to conduct experiments. This, in turn, contributes to preservation efforts and educational initiatives. For the public, the virtual display may serve to cultivate interest and appreciation for history and cultural heritage (Garstki 2016; Montusiewicz, Barszcz, and Korga 2022; Younan and Treadway 2015).

Beyond generating models, 3D printing enables the production of tangible replicas of artifacts that can be used for educational, exhibition, and preservation purposes (Graham 2012; Montusiewicz, Barszcz, and Korga 2022). 3D printing enables the replication of rare and fragile objects suitable for hands-on activities, research, and preservation purposes. Handling physical artifacts allows for a more immersive learning experience than merely observing objects within glass display cases. These 3D-printed replicas also serve as accessible tools for individuals with visual or sensory impairments, enabling them to interact with the exhibits through touch (Montusiewicz, Barszcz, and Korga 2022). Moreover, by scanning and producing 3D replicas, museums can potentially loan out precious artifacts, preserving the originals while sharing their replicated forms (Graham 2012).

Since late 2020, the State Historical Society of North Dakota has utilized the Artec Space Spider 3D scanner to create diverse 3D models from a range of artifact categories. These include decorated Native American ceramic sherds and a stone axe, grooved maul, glass pendant, ground stone tool, and chipped stone tool. The agency plans to create a virtual display of these and other models on its website. However, a significant challenge associated with virtually displaying these 3D models is the potential for unauthorized reproduction and distribution. It's crucial to carefully consider copyright implications and the intended usage of these models before sharing them online. Access controls and usage agreements can help mitigate potential risks.

In conclusion, the digital accessibility of artifacts democratizes access to knowledge and invites a worldwide audience to engage in exploration and learning. Moreover, 3D printing empowers hands-on engagement with replicas, enriching educational experiences and promoting inclusivity among diverse communities, including those with sensory impairments.

References

Eve, Stuart. 2018. “Losing Our Senses, An Exploration of 3D Object Scanning.” Open Archaeology 4, no. 1: 114-22.

Garstki, Kevin. 2017. “Virtual Representation: The Production of 3D Digital Artifacts.” Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 24: 726-50.

Graham, Chelsea A. 2012. “Applications of Digitization to Museum Collections Management, Research, and Accessibility.” Master’s thesis, Lund University. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/lup/publication/2543856.

Montusiewicz, Jerzy, Marcin Barszcz, and Sylwester Korga. 2022. “Preparation of 3D Models of Cultural Heritage Objects to be Recognized by Touch by the Blind—Case Studies.” Applied Sciences 12, no. 23: 11910. https://doi.org/10.3390/app122311910.

Younan, Sarah, and Cathy Treadaway. 2015. “Digital 3D Models of Heritage Artefacts: Towards A Digital Dream Space.” Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage 2, no. 4: 240-47.