McCurdy update

Last week, Caitlin and I used the bill of lading and the overview of the McCurdy collection to begin populating the templates used by the Print Inventory to prepare to inventory the original shipping boxes in the Jordan Room. From our initial investigation and conversations with Print Collection staff, we were prepared that the actual contents would not match the typed container list, taped to each opened box.

Caitlin and I decided to test two boxes at item level to see how the actual contents of the opened boxes would compare against the data we reformatted and the packing lists. We were not surprised to find items missing from the boxes (primarily the woodblocks, books and correspondence).  It was also interesting to see the range of materials included in the collection that we had read about. In the boxes were preliminary thumbnail sketches, scratchboard drawings, sketches on tissue paper, publishers’ proofs, book jackets, promotional materials and, even silk neckties! Actually seeing the objects raised all sorts of questions for us regarding documentation processes, conservation needs, and storage materials.

Scratchboard by Michael McCurdy, from "Paul Revere"(we're betting that
plastic covering and adhesive tape are not exactly archival)

After this initial test, Caitlin and I began a container level inventory of all three storage places within the Jordan room: a double table, large library cart and tall baker’s rack, all full of boxes.  We also discovered materials from a related collection (“Face to Face”) that Caitlin had worked on in a past internship, mixed in with our collection. Our next step? Locate the woodblocks, books and archival material pulled from the boxes…treasure hunt ahead!

One container yield two ties designed by Michael McCurdy for the Sierra Club. The
sketches and mockups for the ties are included in the collection.