Date of Award

5-14-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

Charles Romney

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis project is to create virtual 3D artifacts for the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum for use in their e-museum website to aid museum accessibility of objects. These 3D artifacts will be used by the Clinton Museum for their webpage and the artifacts were modeled carefully to appear as close as possible to the objects chosen by the museum team. As an institution part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the limited access of objects due to the sheer size of the collection creates a problem with the institution’s mission of providing access to historical records to the nation’s public. This project serves as one potential avenue that has the potential to bridge the gap between accessibility and object integrity. As a Public Historian, it is imperative to adapt to the time and the technology available in order to further the mission of creating methods to make history widely accessible to the public that they represent. This project demonstrates an opportunity to put artifacts in the hands of people so that they can learn and observe in a way that keeps the artifacts safe while serving as an active educational tool.

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