Handling Photographs for Digitization

Digitization is an important step in improving access to your photography collection while simultaneously minimizing the frequency of handling that can potentially cause damage to these items. Digital Archives Specialist Kaitlyn Pettengill will be in conversation with Associate Photo Conservator Ivey Barker to discuss the unique challenges of working with photographs in achieving your digitization goals. They will discuss the differences in digitization setups for a range of photographic materials, including cased photographs, glossy prints, and slides. Considerations of varying photographic formats, materials, and vulnerabilities will help participants shape an effective digitization strategy. You will come away with more information on how to safely implement digitization setups based on your scale and budget, as well as an understanding of which photo processes to prioritize for digitization. About our speakers: As Associate Photo Conservator, Ivey Barker assesses the condition and treatment needs for a wide range of photographs, from daguerreotypes to digital prints, and contributes to outreach efforts. Ivey joins the staff from the Cleveland Museum of Art, where she was the Mellon Fellow in Photograph Conservation. She has held positions at the National Archives and Records Administration, the Image Permanence Institute, and the George Eastman Museum. Ivey received a MA in Photographic Preservation and Collections Management from the University of Rochester, in collaboration with the George Eastman Museum. As the Digital Archives Specialist, Kaitlyn Pettengill conducts digital preservation assessments and assists with digitization planning for collecting organizations. She advises organizations in the ongoing development, implementation, and operation of their digital preservation programs as well as on recommendations for the development and implementation of digital preservation strategies, technologies, and procedures. Prior to joining the CCAHA staff in 2024, Kaitlyn worked as the Digital Projects Coordinator for the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University and as the Digital Services Archivist at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Kaitlyn earned an MLIS from San José State University, where she specialized in Digital Collections and Digital Asset Management. She also holds an MA degree in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London and a BA in Art History and English Literature from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.  Recorded on June 16, 2026