Resources for Small Cultural Heritage Organizations

How to Get Started in Digital Humanities

This is a resource page to help small cultural heritage organizations that wish to increase the visibility and usability of their holdings and activities online. The term “digital humanities” covers a wide range of activities, from making new materials available online to analyzing and connecting data using advanced computing tools. This page will provide examples of what cultural heritage organizations are currently doing to inspire ideas for your own materials. And since many digital projects require technical skills that small cultural heritage organizations lack, it is also designed to help you find collaborators to achieve the digital profile you wish. You may contact service providers for consultation on grant proposals to funders such as the New Jersey Council for the Humanities to support the creation of digital materials.

Overviews and Tools for DIY Digital Humanities

Bamboo DIRT: http://dirt.projectbamboo.org/

Bamboo DIRT is a resource for finding tools for all manner of digital humanities work, organized by what task you want to do.  Tasks are divided into 29 categories, with links to nearly 800 tools. This resource will help you discover useful tools, but does not discuss how to use them.

Digital Humanities Questions and Answers: http://digitalhumanities.org/answers/

DH Answers is a community-based Q&A board for digital humanities questions. It can be very helpful for addressing stumbling blocks for DIY digital project developers.

Free DIY

Mobile Historical: http://mobilehistorical.org/

Mobile Historical provides tools for curating location-based digital collections. It is in early development

Sample project: Connecticut Communities http://communities.connecticuthistory.org/

Collective Access: http://www.collectiveaccess.org/

Collective Access is a highly configurable cataloguing tool and web-based application for museums, archives, and digital collections.

Sample project: Roundabout Theater Company Archives http://archive.roundabouttheatre.org/index.php

Omeka: http://omeka.org/

Omeka is a free, flexible, and open source web-publishing platform for the display of library, museum, archives, and scholarly collections and exhibitions. Promises a “5-minute set up.” It is one of the most popular platforms for free display of museum collections in online exhibits.

Sample projects: A list of more than 100 sites using Omeka can be found here http://omeka.org/codex/View_Sites_Powered_by_Omeka

Representative sample: LBJ Library, Dear Bird: The 1934 Courtship Letters http://archives.lbjlibrary.org/

Wordpress: http://wordpress.org/

Wordpress is a free web software to make websites and blogs. Originally developed as a blogging platform, its themes have been customized for attractive websites and content management for organizations.

Organizations

Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations: http://adho.org/

ADHO promotes and supports digital research and teaching across all arts and humanities disciplines, acting as a community-based advisory force and supporting excellence in research, publication, collaboration, and training. It has held an annual conference since 1990.

Museums and the Web: http://www.museumsandtheweb.com/

Museums and the Web is a collaborative space for people creating cultural heritage online. Since 1997, it has held an annual conference for museum professionals and issued a “Best of the Web” award for various exhibit categories.

Museum Computer Network: http://www.mcn.edu/

The Museum Computer Network supports the museum community by providing opportunities to explore, implement, and disseminate new technologies and best practices in the field. It has held an annual conference since 1979 and has organized special interest groups, including one for small museums.

Vendors

Comprehensive Site Developers

Bluecadet Interactive: http://bluecadet.com/
1011 N. Hancock St. Unit 101
Philadelphia, PA 19123
267-639-9956

A Philadelphia based studio concerned with crafting a client’s story and connecting it to its desired audience.

Sample project: George Washington Letters, National Museum of Jewish History http://religiousfreedom.nmajh.org/

C&G Partners: http://www.cgpartnersllc.com/

A New York based integrated design firm specializing in media, the arts, and public spaces.

Sample project: Coming of Age in the Holocaust http://comingofagenow.org/

Interactive Mechanics: http://interactivemechanics.com/

A Philadelphia based mobile and interactive design firm specializing in engaging experiences on any platform.

Sample project: Albert M. Greenfield Digital Center for the History of Women’s Education, Bryn Mawr College http://greenfield.brynmawr.edu/

Night Kitchen Interactive: http://www.whatscookin.com/html/
411 S. 2nd Street, Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-629-9962

Philadelphia based interactive design firm working with museums, science centers, and arts and cultural heritage organizations. Online exhibits facilitate exploratory learning through insightful narratives and compelling storylines.

Sample project: Slavery at Monticello http://www.monticello.org/slavery-at-monticello/getting-word

Swim Design: http://www.swimdesign.com/
10410 Kensington Pkwy, Suite 220
Kensington, MD 20895
301-565-1627

Maryland based, majority women-owned visual communications firm with experience in a wide range of  web-based projects from online exhibitions to complete websites with extensive content management components.

Sample project: The King James Bible, Folger Shakespeare Library http://www.manifoldgreatness.org/

Specialized Services, Mobile Tours

OnCell: http://oncell.com/

Provides a full range of mobile tour solutions including: smartphone tours, mobile web tours, QR Code tours, cell phone tours, mobile surveys, GEOAlerts, scavenger hunts, custom apps and app channels – all integrated into a single platform.

Sample clients: http://oncell.com/about/who-we-serve/client-map

Audissey Media: http://www.audisseymedia.com/audio-tours-for-ipods/

Creates mobile walking tours that merge creativity with technology.

Sample clients: http://www.audisseymedia.com/category/portfolio/

Specialized Services, Videocasting

PCK Media: http://www.pckmedia.com/

Producers and directors of documentaries for arts, culture, history, and the environment.

Sample project: Michael Graves: The Warehouse, clip http://www.pckmedia.com/reel/michael-graves-the-warehouse-clip/

Specialized Services, Imaging

Arqspin: http://arqspin.com/

Virginia based developer of free service for 360 rotation imaging of objects. Tutorial at site.

Sample project: University of Virginia Art Museum Interactive Catalog http://uvam.arqball.com/

Specialized Services, GIS

Azavea: http://www.azavea.com/

Philadelphia based GIS implementation company. Creates software to bring together the best of geography and the web, web and mobile tools to enable the public to access and visualize your data.

Sample project: Philadelphia Mural Arts Program Mural Farm http://www.muralfarm.org/Muralfarm/