J.B. Jackson, cultural geographer:evolution of an archive

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to document the acquisition and processing of an important landscape architecture archive, the J.B. Jackson Collection, and making it available for scholars and researchers.Design/methodology/approachThe first part of the article describes the importance of Jackson's contribution to landscape architecture and his professional legacy. This legacy consisted in a large collection of slides, scattered among various individuals and institutions. The authors then address how the various parts of the collection were identified, acquired, digitized and brought to the University of New Mexico (UNM). Metadata creation and issues of copyright are also discussed.FindingsThe paper finds that it requires considerable professional effort and networking to take a working collection and transform it into an archive that has intellectual cogency.Research limitations/implicationsUNM's effort to acquire, preserve and make this collection widely available will inspire future scholars and spark new ways of looking at landscape.Practical implicationsThe extensive restoration needed for the Jackson slides warranted a vendor with museum experience, in this instance, Two Cat Digital. Metadata creation requires training qualified personnel. Copyright limitations dictate how the slides display.Originality/valueJ.B. Jackson defined the vernacular landscape. This project made his distinctive and important collection available to the research community. The paper also discussed the process of taking a working collection and turning it into a bona fide research tool.