Jacci Alworden TNE Editorial Board

Archivists work to preserve NSU artifacts

After former archivist Vickie Sheffler retired, rumors swirled that the archive department would be closing. It is not closing, said Steven Edscorn, excutive director of libraries. Brenda Bradford is our interim archivist. She will be the head of this department in archives until a permanent archivist is hired. The archives department contains documents and artifacts pertaining to NSUs history. Some of these artifacts are more than 100 years old. This contains the history of the university, more than anything it is a university archive, said Edscorn. For example, we hold all of the papers of former presidents of NSU, old yearbooks, athletic programs, memorabilia and The Northeastern, said Edscorn. Brenda Bradford, interim archivist, said they even have copies of underground student newspapers. Researchers who need to use it for any projects are welcome to come by, just make an appointment with Brenda to use the material, said Edscorn. Bradford said she encourages students to use these resources when doing a research project. Some of the artifacts contained within the archives department are extremely fragile and require specific climate controlled temperatures to keep them from deteriorating. Ideally we keep the temperature in the low to mid 60s, said Esdcorn. Although you can come up to about 67 or 68 degrees without doing a great deal of harm to things and the people can endure the temperature as well. Some of the artifacts contained within the department have even been encapsulated to help preserve them. Edscorn said they encapsulate some sensitive documents in order to keep them away from other papers that might be acidic. While working, the archivists must wear gloves when handling older artifacts. It keeps the oils in your skin off the paper, said Blain Mcaline, university archivist assistant. Newspapers are self-eating, because of chemicals in them and thats why newspapers from the early 1900s look better then the ones from the 80s, if you leave them out in the air, because the 80s ones are meant to biodegrade. Mcalin said some of oils in your skin could really harm some of the old parchment styles. He also said that is why some of the older papers have lasted because they are made on different paper, they are more pulpy and dont have any chemicals built into them. A long time ago someone said hey, newspapers are filling up our landfills, lets make them ecofriendly, thats great for the environment, but terrible for preservation, said Mcalin Edscorn said as things are increasingly published online preservation becomes a greater challenge, especially with technology formats constantly changing.

I would encourage people if they have a research project, or an interest in the history of the university this is a good place to come, said Edscorn. The archive department is open 8 a.m. 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They are available on Tuesday and Thursday by appointment only. For more information, click here Published 3/13/14