Emerson College Archives and Special Collections Audiovisual Collections Preservation Planning Assessment

FAIN: PG-52443-15

Emerson College (Boston, MA 02116-4624)
Christina J. Zamon (Project Director: May 2014 to June 2016)

The preservation assessment of the Emerson College Archives and Special Collections’ nearly 5,000 audiovisual recordings, which total 300 linear feet and in part document the history of American comedy in film, radio, and television, including performers Dom DeLuise, Jan Murray, and Henry Winkler.

The Emerson College Archives and Special Collections in the Iwasaki Library contains the historical records of the 134-year-old College and special collections related to its focus on communication and the arts. These collections offer insight into Boston’s and the nation’s theater history; the history of television, radio, broadcasting, and film; and the history of Boston. They include the American Comedy Archives’ primary source material documenting ground-breaking individuals who have written, produced or performed comedy for radio, television, motion pictures or live performance. The Emerson College Archives and Special Collections intends to have AVPreserve conduct an audiovisual preservation planning assessment. The final report will identify options for reformatting, budgets, and timelines as well as future planning needs for storage and management of source materials.