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Summary of Mass Digitization Team Projects

SummaryMass DigitizationImaging ServicesInformatics

Mass Digitization aims to digitize large museum collections efficiently without sacrificing image quality or object care. This method employs three major workflows: physical, imaging, and virtual, designed to handle objects safely, optimize capture throughputs, and automate image delivery. Guiding principles include comprehensive end-to-end processes, high-volume work for economies of scale, relentless pursuit of efficiency, and robust project management. Our innovative Item Driven Image Fidelity (IDIF) wherein we determine the optimal resolvable resolution for a project, and institution-wide infrastructure, create sustainable, repeatable results. To date, over 5.9 million items have been successfully digitized.

projects_orderUnitTitleStatusPMDatesSpecimens/Objects DigitizedImages Captured
230NMNHEnto Pollinators - LabelsOngoingErin M. Mazzei03 Jun 2025 -2981,228
229NMNHEntomology Pollinators ConveyorOngoingErin M. Mazzei03 Jun 2025 -3,60310,809
226NMAAHCJPCA Production 1BOngoingJeanine Nault04 Nov 2024 -00
226NMNHNAA Aleš Hrdlička PapersOngoingJeanine Nault04 Aug 2025 -27,25127,251
211NMAAHCJPCA Production 1AOngoingJeanine Nault04 Nov 2024 -303,048688,122
165NMAAHCJPC Archive Priority 1CompletedJeanine Nault26 Feb - 30 Oct 202471,185154,144
157NMNHHSFA Slides Part 2CompletedJeanine Nault09 Oct 2023 - 28 Jul 202581,66581,665
152NMAAHCJPC Archive PilotCompletedJeanine Nault16 Aug - 10 Oct 20239,40925,050
145NMNHNMNH UnionoidaCompletedErin M. Mazzei28 Jun 2023 -48,196139,794
35NMNHEntomology - OdonataCompletedJeanine Nault14 Jun - 14 Dec 2022107,659107,659
31NMNHHuman Studies Film Archives, Tanna Island 1974 35mm SlidesCompletedJeanine Nault06 Jul 2021 - 30 Sep 202240,93140,931
30CHSDMCH Card CatalogCompletedNathan Ian Anderson, Jeanine Nault01 Apr - 30 May 202113,91913,919
27NMNHHerbariumCompletedKen Rahaim21 Oct 2015 - 01 Jun 20223,848,5653,848,565
26SGArchives of American Gardens Garden Club of America and Ken Druse Garden Photograph CollectionsCompletedJeanine Nault11 Sep 2019 - 01 Oct 202037,97937,979
24NMNHPaleobiology EPICC Mass Digitization - 2019CompletedNathan Ian Anderson09 Dec 2019 - 14 Mar 2020236,050*49,514
23NMNHEntomology Bumblebees and Carpenter BeesCompletedJeanine Nault02 Dec 2019 - 06 Feb 202030,02030,020
22NMAfANMAfA Archives Stephen Grant Postcard CollectionCompletedNathan Ian Anderson28 Oct 2019 - 20 Mar 20207,41014,827
21NMAHNational Numismatic Collection Russian Coins and Medals, Lilly, and Straub CollectionsCompletedJeanine Nault29 Oct 2019 - 19 Feb 202025,20450,406
18NMAHPrinceton and War Posters CollectionsCompletedKen Rahaim, Jeanine Nault03 Dec 2018 - 15 May 201917,97618,704
17SIBCastle Chair CollectionCompletedNathan Ian Anderson13 - 18 Nov 20185751,162
16SGGarden Furnishings, Horticultural Artifacts, and Archives Mass DigitizationCompletedNathan Ian Anderson30 Jul - 11 Oct 201815,36315,363
15NPGMeserve Production ProjectCompletedKen Rahaim09 - 13 Apr 20183,8533,853
14NMNHPaleobiology EPICC Mass DigitizationCompletedNathan Anderson08 Nov 2017 - 06 Apr 2018447,280*93,109
13SGOrchids Live Collection DigitizationCompletedNathan Ian Anderson13 Dec 2017 - 03 Apr 20185,6357,458
12NMNHPaleobiology PilotCompletedNathan Ian Anderson21 - 26 Jan 201710,850*2,667
12NPGMeserve Pilot ProjectCompletedKen Rahaim04 - 08 Dec 20171,900*1,900*
11CHSDMWhole Museum - Made possible by the Morton and Barbara Mandel Family FoundationCompletedKen Rahaim10 Nov 2014 - 31 Aug 2016193,099193,099
10NMAAHCInaugural Exhibit CollectionCompletedBen Sullivan27 Jan - 24 Jun 20162,5194,305
9NASMSmall Object CollectionCompletedBen Sullivan27 Oct 2015 - 15 Jan 20168996,293
8NPMShure CollectionCompletedBen Sullivan25 Sep - 02 Oct 201522,2863,559
7CFCHFolkways Records ArtworkCompletedJessica Beauchamp24 Apr - 01 May 20151,0222,345
6NASMAircraft Instruments Pilot ProjectCompletedBen Sullivan06 - 10 Apr 20157825,473
5NMAHNumismatics Production ProjectCompletedKen Rahaim20 Oct 2014 - 06 Mar 2015271,301271,301
4NMNHEntomology BumblebeesCompletedKen Rahaim30 Jun - 22 Aug 201444,04744,047
3FSGPottery PilotCompletedKen Rahaim16 - 23 May 20148381,492
3SGSears CollectionCompletedBen Sullivan12 - 28 Jan 20153,3943,394
2NMAHNumismatics Pilot ProjectCompletedKen Rahaim21 - 28 Feb 20143,0693,069
1NMAAHCPhotographic Prints Pilot ProjectCompletedKen Rahaim20 - 27 Sep 20131,4151,415
0SGSears Collection PilotCompletedKen Rahaim16 - 23 Aug 2013877877

* Value was estimated

We thank DAMS for providing DPO with access to their data.