MSLIS Portfolio

Project Index

• What’s Mine is Yours, but is it Ours?

• “Extending an Inestimable Amount of Good

• Analyzing the Afterlife of Selected Film Props from Back to the Future II Using Python Data Visualization

• Archives Weren’t Built in a Day: Artist Archives in Rome—New York

This project explores the ethical and cultural implications of repurposing historical artifacts as props, tracking the shifts in what and how props mean as they move through different contexts of use, preservation, and performance. Written as a final research paper in the Fall 2022 for Foundations of Information.

Through a comparative analysis of two high-profile cases—Kim Kardashian wearing Marilyn Monroe’s dress at the 2022 Met Gala and Lizzo playing James Madison’s crystal flute at the Library of Congress—the study examines how cultural artifacts were handled, accessed, and  re-perceived when used by celebrities, showing how their status changes based on who interacts with them.

Faculty and student feedback highlighted the project's strong theoretical foundation and its relevance to contemporary discussions on artifact preservation and ethical archival custodianship.

Methods 

For my research, I examined media coverage, public discourse, and scholarly perspectives on these two case studies. I analyzed primary and secondary sources, including news articles, interviews, social media reactions, and institutional responses from the Library of Congress and the fashion industry.

My Role 

This was an individual research project conducted for the Foundations of Library & Information Science course which is a requirement for all graduate students in the Information School. I designed the research framework, conducted literature reviews, and synthesized key findings. I also engaged in critical analysis of the relationship between artifacts, culture, and information ethics. This project was presented on a poster for Pratt’s Info Show 2023.

Learning Outcome Achieved

Foundations of Library & Information Studies

• This paper demonstrates understanding of how cultural artifacts are preserved, reinterpreted, and transformed over time.

• The project applies core LIS principles to examine the ethical considerations in the use of historical objects.

Ethical, Creative, & Critical Practice

• Critically evaluates the role of institutions, media, and public discourse in shaping the meaning of artifacts.

• Explores the responsibilities of librarians, archivists, and cultural heritage institutions in maintaining ethical standards for object preservation.

Rationale

Working at the intersection of LIS theory and cultural heritage studies, this project demonstrates the importance of ethical decision-making to the preservation and interpretation of historical artifacts as they move between contexts.

The study also aligns with LIS principles of access, preservation, and responsible stewardship, which serves as an example of critical engagement with contemporary archival and information ethics.

This project explores the evolution of architectural space and memory through archival materials, examining how historical spaces are forgotten, repurposed, and reimagined over time. By investigating the lost museums of Pratt Institute, this project sheds light on how institutional histories fade and how archives can be used to recover lost narratives.

The research began with an exploration of the Pratt Institute Archives, focusing on the Founder’s Day Collection, which included historical letters, photographs, and ephemera related to early campus celebrations. One major discovery was that Pratt once had multiple museums, including one in what is now the Alumni Room on the fifth floor of the Pratt Library.

To reconnect past and present, I re-photographed historical images in their original locations, layering these images on plexiglass to create a visual dialogue between past and present spaces. My goal was to encourage viewers to critically engage with the spaces they inhabit and recognize how quickly history can disappear.

Faculty and peers who experienced this work in person at the Info Show '24 responded positively to the project’s creative use of archival materials and experimental approach to historical interpretation.

The title of the project comes from an application letter from J. Frederick Hopkins applying to be the curator at Pratt. The letter is located in Museum Correspondence, 1888-1932, 1, Box: 1, Folder: 2. Records of the Department of Exhibitions, PI-008. Pratt Institute Archives

Methods 

• Archival Research: Examined letters, photographs, and documents in the Pratt Institute Archives, specifically the Founder’s Day Collection and the Records of the Department of Exhibitions.

• Historical Investigation: Discovered that Pratt had multiple museums, which no longer exist today.

• Photographic Recreation: Retook historical images of museum spaces in their original locations.

• Plexiglass Printing:

• Digitally transferred historical and newly taken photographs onto plexiglass, symbolizing a “window into the past.”

• Used Clear Gel transfer technique, drying for 24 hours before peeling away paper layers.

• Faced unexpected challenges where over-rubbing caused portions of images to fade, unintentionally enhancing the theme of historical fragmentation.

• Exhibition Preparation: Developed the project for a class exhibition at Pratt’s Info Show, aligning with research in archives and artistic representation of memory.

My Role

This was an individual research project conducted for INFO 697-02: Archives & Art Making. I did the following:

• Designed the concept, research framework, and creative execution of the project.

• Conducted primary archival research, curated historical images, and executed the photographic recreation process.

• Overcame material limitations, securing additional funding support from the Dean for project materials.

Learning Outcome Achieved

Foundations of Library & Information Studies

• Demonstrates proficiency in archival research, historical preservation, and interpretation of institutional history.

• Engages in critical inquiry into the role of archives in shaping collective memory.

Ethical, Creative, & Critical Practice

• Uses artistic and archival methods to challenge perceptions of historical spaces.

• Highlights the fragility of memory and the ethical responsibilities of archivists in maintaining institutional history.

Technology & Materiality in Archives

• Explores the intersection of physical and digital archival techniques.

• Innovates with plexiglass printing as a tool for visualizing archival narratives.

Rationale

This project was selected because it embodies the intersection of archival research, creative practice, and LIS principles. It challenges how we think about institutional memory, spatial history, and the role of archives in shaping narratives.

By reconstructing the lost museums of Pratt through photographic recreations and artistic interventions, the project demonstrates how archival work can revive forgotten spaces and histories. The unexpected fading of images in the plexiglass process further reinforces the ephemerality of memory and the power of archives to bring the past back into the present.

Analyzing the Afterlife of Selected Film Props from Back to the Future II Using Python Data Visualization

This project examines the afterlife of sixteen film props from Back to the Future Part II (1989), tracing their journey from production tools to culturally significant archival objects. The study uses Python-based data visualization to analyze where these props ended up—whether in museums, private collections, or commercial spaces—and how their meaning shifts through these transitions.

The initial goal was to map the provenance and material history of these objects, but due to limited publicly available data, the focus shifted to visualizing the timeline of props sold at auction. This pivot highlights an important challenge in archival research and data collection—the availability (or lack) of records.

Despite this challenge, the project successfully demonstrated the power of Python in cultural heritage research, providing a proof of concept for further studies on object circulation in the art and film industries. The response was positive, particularly to the use of coding in the humanities and the adaptability shown in shifting research focus.

Methods

• Archival & Web-Based Research:

  • Collected provenance data on sixteen props from Back to the Future Part II using auction house records, museum collections, and media sources.

  • Examined how props are described and valued post-production.

  Data Cleaning & Structuring:

  • Created a structured Google Sheets dataset of known sales records.

  • Used Python to clean and standardize sale price data and format auction dates.

  Python Data Visualization:

  • Developed a timeline visualization to show when props were sold and where they ended up.

  • Used matplotlib & pandas to create a clear timeline plot.

• Challenges & Adaptations:

  • Initially aimed to map physical locations of props but had to pivot to timeline visualization due to insufficient data.

  • Overcame coding errors in data formatting & visualization execution.

My Role

This was an individual research project for INFO 664-01: Programming for Cultural Heritage.

• Designed and executed the entire research process, from data collection to visualization.

• Learned Python from scratch and applied it to a cultural heritage context.

• Overcame significant technical and research challenges by adapting the project's focus.

Learning Outcome Achieved:

Technology & Data in Cultural Heritage

• Demonstrates proficiency in Python for data visualization in LIS research.

• Highlights the intersection of programming and archival studies.

Research & Data Ethics in LIS

• Examines challenges in object provenance research, including gaps in public data availability.

• Adapts research methodology when data limitations impact original study goals.

Ethical, Creative, & Critical Practice

• Explores how objects' meaning changes over time depending on who owns them and how they are displayed.

• Raises questions about accessibility of auction and provenance data.

Rationale

This project was selected because it demonstrates interdisciplinary research, applying coding and data visualization to a humanities and LIS-focused study.

By analyzing the movement of film props, from production objects to cultural artifacts, it highlights the role of archives, auction records, and museums in shaping historical narratives. The study also highlights the limitations of available data and the importance of flexibility in research methodologies.

Additionally, this project serves as a proof of concept for my study in the History of Art and Design graduate program’s thesis, which expands on the afterlife of specific objects such as:

• Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane (1941) – housed at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

• Sports Almanac from Back to the Future II (1989) – in the private collection of banker Tom Biolchini.

• Lambretta Scooter from Quadrophenia (1967) – on display at Hard Rock Café Florence.

This project examines the structure, access, and legacy of three artist archives—those of Robert Rauschenberg, Franco Angeli, and Elisabetta Catalano—across New York and Rome. Conducted as part of the INFO 697: Artists’ Archives: Rome/NY course in Spring 2024, the research focused on how these archives manage and preserve artistic legacies, the challenges they face in accessibility, and how institutional structures impact their long-term sustainability.

Our study developed a six-part analytical framework to evaluate these archives:

• Founding

  • Who established the archive and why?

• Processing

  • How is the collection being catalogued?

• Digitization

  • What materials are accessible digitally?

• Access & Collections Display

  • How can researchers engage with the materials?

• Staff & Administration

  • Who manages the archive, and how is it maintained?

• Legacy & Narrative

  • How does the archive shape the artist’s public memory?

Through site visits, interviews, and archival research, we learned how artist archives differ from institutional collections in both Rome and New York City and the varied challenges they face in maintaining artist legacies.

Our team presented our findings in a formal research presentation at Pratt’s Info Show 2024, which I co-designed, handling both the visual layout, the Elisabetta Catalano Archive section, as well as the access and display section.

Methods

• Archival Site Visits:

  • Visited and studied three artist archives (Robert Rauschenberg in NYC, Franco Angeli in Rome, and Elisabetta Catalano in Rome).

  • Conducted on-site interviews with archive staff regarding challenges in preservation and accessibility.

  Comparative Analysis:

  • We developed a six-part analytical framework to compare these archives.

  • Identified key differences in funding, digital access, and legacy-building strategies.

  Digital & Material Research:

  • Reviewed artist estate documents, digital catalog initiatives, and institutional policies.

  • Analyzed differences in public access between large, well-funded archives (Rauschenberg) and smaller family-run archives (Angeli & Catalano).

  Presentation & Design:

  • Co-designed and structured the final research presentation.

  • Focused on accessibility challenges in artist archives and their impact on research engagement.

My Role

• Researcher & Accessibility Analyst:

  • Conducted archival research and interviews on artist archive policies.

  • Evaluated public accessibility strategies and digitization challenges.

• Presentation Designer:

  • Co-designed the visual structure and layout of the research presentation.

  • Integrated key accessibility findings into the final analysis.

• Comparative Archive Analysis:

  • Studied the differences between large artist foundations vs. smaller family-run archives.

  • Investigated how funding influences access and preservation.

Learning Outcome Achieved

Foundations of Library & Information Studies

• Explored how artist archives function outside of institutional museum collections.

• Examined core LIS concepts in archival processing, access, and preservation.

User-Centered Services & Accessibility

• Analyzed how financial resources impact public access to archives.

• Investigated digitization initiatives and accessibility challenges in artist archives.

Ethical, Creative, & Critical Practice

• Evaluated how archives influence an artist’s legacy through collection policies.

• Considered the ethics of archival decision-making and historical preservation.

Rationale

This project provides a critical analysis of how artist archives function outside traditional institutions highlighting the complex relationship between funding, access, and legacy-building in archival practice.

By comparing well-established foundations (Rauschenberg) with family-led initiatives (Angeli, Catalano), the project reveals the hidden challenges in preserving artist legacies—from authentication struggles to digitization barriers.

Additionally, my role in both research and presentation design demonstrates interdisciplinary engagement, applying LIS principles to real-world archival accessibility challenges.