Archives and Special Collections

 I really enjoyed my visit to archives and special collections. My favorite piece was the ancient Mesopotamian receipt, because it was so old and from so long ago, yet still largely intact. It is a fragment of a world that no longer exists. It is so weird to think about how much times have changed, and how much times will change. Though likely not in our lifetimes, a paper receipt will also be a relic, costing a pretty penny to get your hands on one. I am interested in learning more about the preservation of literature, in a literal sense. Fun fact: my preschool did this weird thing where they would predict the future careers of the students, and mine was an art preservationist. Though my preschool was definitely wrong, I do think the way that chemicals and temperature and humidity affect the preservation of art is fascinating. I wish I knew more about how/if different levels of environment need to be used for works from different times. For example, does a papyrus scroll need to be kept in a different environment than a book? I also am very interested in the scandal involving the fraternities that caused them to become disaffiliated with the school. Being in a sorority, the concept of Greek life is something I have gotten used to, but not something I understand the depths of. Knowing the history of Greek life at Santa Clara could reveal why things are the way that they are today.

Comments

  1. Nick PecoraOctober 31, 2021 at 7:27 PM

    It's really funny to picture one of those absurdly long CVS receipts (or a fragment of one, anyway) being in Archives and Special Collections in 500 years, but I think it's definitely a possibility!

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