Services
The Photography Collections Preservation Project (PCPP) is a nonprofit dedicated to cultural preservation. The services we provide range from initial consultations on a variety of archival issues to full-service organization and placement of archives with collecting institutions.
If you are interested in working with PCPP, please schedule a consultation.
Services
Collection Organization
Every archive has special organization requirements driven by the photographer’s individual practice. In organizing the collection, PCPP will
Evaluate the scope of the archive
Determine the appropriate organizational approach for physical and intellectual access to the collection
Organize in archival boxes and folders with subject and/or chronological headings
Create a collection overview using a selection of representative images, digitizing them as necessary.
Initial Consultation
PCPP is available as a resource to photographers and their estates to answer questions on organization, digitization, placement, appraisal, and related issues. Please also see our project checklist which is available to the artist or their estate when developing a work plan for the archive.
Creation of the Catalogue
After preserving and processing materials, then selectively digitizing them to best represent the collection, PCPP will
Devise a hierarchy for digital files consistent with the organization of the physical archive
Create file names according to best practices of relevant institutions
Create a database to facilitate search and access*
* This work may, or may not, be needed by a prospective acquiring institution or appraisers.
Placement
This work will be done at any one of three stages: 1) after initial consultation and understanding of the artist’s or owner’s goals for the collection; 2) after organizational and/or cataloging work has been completed; or 3) after an appraisal is finalized. To guide placement of the archive, PCPP will
Create a written guide to the archive
Create the archive overview*
Solicitation of Grants
When possible, PCPP will research and apply for grants on behalf of collections for their archival needs.
Fees
Depending on the state of the archive and how much work is required to prepare it for placement, PCPP may assess fees to cover the cost of our services. We recognize the financial considerations of undertaking a project of this scale may impose on an artist or their estate, however, and the assessment of any fees will take place after the initial consultation.