Realia
Overview
In the past, realia received at Houghton was generally moved to the Z-closet (to the left off the Hyde Room on 2). The material was not cataloged into any database, either paper or electronic, and sometimes accessioned as --Z accession numbers, sometimes not. There is a paper card file in this closet with minimal descriptions and that was generally the only record created. It was thought this material was too museum-like, not really our purview, and was relegated to a hidden closet, to be dragged out only for an exhibit. Types of this material included human hair, canes, busts, clothing, jewelry, silverware, china, figurines, stage sets, musical instruments, death masks, swords, suitcases, paintings, etc.
In the Theatre Collection there is an “object aisle” where such items are kept.
In recent years we have tried to make good, clear HOLLIS records for these old realia items, and have moved them out of the Z-closet (which is still very disorganized), assigned them a call-number, and have had them properly end-processed and shelved as collection material. We found it simply easier to find them if they were in HOLLIS or OASIS, rather than creating an entirely new database for them and then have one additional place to search in public services.
Sorting
If a collection has a lot of realia, the physical housing of this material is so difficult that it justifies creating a separate series for it. These items are often really museum objects and often are bulky. The end-processor will certainly have to call upon conservation experts to decide how to house them permanently.
Most often we are so unaccustomed to cataloging this type of material that it is useful to look at other good quality cataloging either in HOLLIS, at LC, or in WorldCat to see how other repositories handle this material. Museum websites, like the Smithsonian, can often give good clues as to how to describe such items, at least what fields are deemed important and what language to use. Sometimes an image can be found on the Internet (often on e-Bay or from a dealer’s website) that can assist in naming and dating it.
Usually a series of realia will be organized alphabetically by maker of the item, then by title or format. Sometimes a collection will only have one or two pieces of realia, and it is probably better to fold it into a series of “Other Material.” When there is very little information about a group of realia, determine the field for which there is the most information: date of item, maker, format, geographic location. Sort by whatever field is the most obvious.
Cataloging Examples
bMS Am 2624 (165) Man's knee buckles (strap accessories), 17?? 2 buckles, in one folder : brass, glass ; 5 x 3 cm. Each is shaped in an oval, with two prongs, and glass? stones set around entire oval. No maker is stamped on pieces. Manuscript notes that arrived with these pieces state that these were worn by Samuel Williams (1743-1817) and were given to Mrs. L. G. Williams
.
bMS Am 2625 (169) Sliding-temple spectacles, undated. 1 pair eyeglasses, in one folder : brass, glass ; 3 x 12 x 11 cm. Said to have been worn by Samuel Williams (1743-1817). Gold color, with lenses that magnify, probably for reading. Left temple piece marked: "C. Brewer & Co. New York." Right temple stamped on outside: "36."
bMS Am 2625 (172) RESTRICTED Woman's lace-up boots, undated. 2 boots, in one box : silk, linen, leather, wood ; 18 x 24 x 7 cm. Light green colored footwear, with 3 cm. high heels, squared toes, and small button holes for lacing extend from instep past ankle to 14 cm up leg.
. Boots have definite right and left form. Right boot with numbers in ink on inside of upper portion: "9183." Left boot has ink maker? illegible inscription, possibly: Wm. Low. Boots are in fragile and brittle condition.