NJDARM: Digitizing the Charters

Photos from the Digitization, 16 August 2006

The pictures below document a truly momentous occasion for the State Archives: the digitization of New Jersey’s original Bill of Rights and Ratification of the United States Constitution at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia’s Regional Digital Imaging Center. Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells, DARM Director Karl J. Niederer, Chief of Archives Joseph R. Klett, and Athenaeum Curator of Architecture Bruce Laverty were joined by staff and colleagues as follows: Glen Ruzicka, Director of Conservation at the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts; Imaging Center Director Michael Seneca, James Carroll and Denise Fox of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia; Department of State Legislative Liaison Justin Zimmerman; and Collection Manager Ellen R. Callahan and Principal Photographer Joanne M. Nestor of New Jersey State Archives. We would like to specially acknowledge the fine work of Joanne Nestor, who orchestrated the scanning event and also took the photographs below, though--as is the lot of the photographer--is not included in the pictures herself.


Karl J. Niederer and Archivist Catherine Stearns Medich transport a carefully packaged page of the New Jersey Ratification.		Joseph R. Klett and Reference Assistant Jon Bozard transport New Jersey's original Bill of Rights.

New Jersey Network (NJN) Cameraman Tim Stollery films Karl Niederer and Joseph Klett loading the Bill of Rights for its journey to Philadelphia.		Karl Niederer plays roving reporter as Joseph Klett is interviewed by NJN.

Ellen R. Callahan and Justin Zimmerman carry the first manuscript into the Athenaeum.		Glen Ruzicka lends a hand as the parchments are prepared for scanning.

Glen Ruzicka describes CCAHA’s 1988 conservation treatment of the Bill of Rights to Athenaeum staff including Bruce Laverty, James Carroll and Denise Fox.		The five framed parchments are ready for scanning.

Department of State, Athenaeum and CCAHA reps pause for a group shot (from left to right): Karl Niederer, Nina Mitchell Wells, Joseph Klett, Ellen Callahan, Justin Zimmerman, Michael Seneca, Bruce Laverty, Glen Ruzicka and James Carroll.		First up for scanning, the Bill of Rights.

Some last-minute dusting.		James Carroll and Michael Seneca prepare to begin the scanning process.

Nina Wells, Joseph Klett and Karl Niederer look on as James Carroll brings up the scanned image of the Bill of Rights.		James Carroll examines the digitized signature of John Adams from the Bill of Rights.