Quick Photography Stand

I have been doing a bit of work with Heyfield and Districts Historical Society, who are restarting their catalogue. We needed a quick stand on which to photograph items - just point and shoot stuff that won't take too long to do, so we have enough to recognise items, and put a photo or two in the catalogue.


This just happened, and has been brilliant. Just the right piece of carpet, propped on two straight-backed chairs and held in place with two heavy books. We can drape appropriate fabrics in the right colour over it when necessary - especially for the smaller items.


But for the larger ones, the mottled grey in the background is quite good - check out this stove:

Not bad for just point and click, on automatic, with the flash - and no lights.


Feel free to use it - I am not claiming any rights!

Cataloguing Manuals

 Inside the storeroom at Stratford Historical Museum (yes, we know the boxes are not acid-free, but you should have seen how things were before them!)

It is all too much for me. I feel a compelling need to document how the collection is managed at Stratford and Maffra. Firstly, it needs to be done in case I am run over by a steamroller, because someone has to take them over.

And because there are others in those collections who are actually interested in the theory behind what we do.

And thirdly, so anyone else out there who wants it can have a copy. 

The current (4th Edition) Victorian Cataloguing Manual is totally silent on manuscripts, documents, files and maps, not much help at all on reference libraries, semi-helpful only on photographs, and seems to think that all historical societies have are objects (including books) and photos.

Stand by - modules will be announced as I document what we do.

New Forums at RHSV

There are now new Forums at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria (RHSV), including a Cataloguing Forum. Anyone is welcome to join - you do not have to be part of the RHSV, and you can read them without having to sign up at all.

There is also a discussion list at Yahoo, called Computer Cataloguing, if you prefer to receive your discussion by email. It also has a seriously good files section available to members.

We had a most excellent meeting at Foster a week or so ago - I am still working on the report!

And a welcome to Heyfield Historical Society, who are again working on their catalogue following a few setbacks over the years. They are using InMagic.