Yes! You Can Have Access to That! Increasing and Promoting the Accessibility of Maryland’s Archaeological Collections

Summary

Eighteen years ago, the State of Maryland’s archaeological collections were moved into the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab) at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum in Southern Maryland. This was an important step towards improving the storage conditions of the Maryland collections, but it did little to make the collections more accessible. Understanding the need for better access to archaeological collections, MAC Lab staff spent years rehousing, inventorying and conserving collections to make them more available to researchers, students, and other institutions for study, education, and exhibit. This paper will highlight the various approaches the MAC Lab has taken to not just increase, but to also promote, access to the Maryland collections through outreach programs, exhibits, and online research tools. 

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Successful Collection Management: Using Existing Collections for Research, Education, Public Outreach, and Innovation   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 113