NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The Delaware Nation, a federally recognized tribe based in Anadarko, Oklahoma, has received a $75,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through its Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum and Library Services program. The grant will fund a partnership with the 3D Scanning Lab at the University of Oklahoma Libraries to digitize the tribe’s archival and museum artifacts.
The project, titled “Delaware Nation – Digitization of Delaware Nation Collections,” will involve the creation of high-quality, high-resolution 3D models of the tribe’s artifacts using photogrammetry, a 3D scanning method. The digital models will be stored in a cloud-based system, making them accessible to Delaware Nation citizens, researchers and the public through an online digital catalog. Visitors to the Delaware Nation Museum and Library in Anadarko will also be able to view the digitized artifacts onsite.
The collaboration ensures the preservation and accessibility of cultural history for future generations, says Kristi Wyatt, emerging technologies librarian at University Libraries. “By creating these 3D models, we make the collection more accessible online,” she said.
The grant helps buy equipment used in photogrammetry, a process that uses photos to measure and interpret features on a surface, enabling the creation of precise 3D models and maps from 2D images. It is widely used in fields such as engineering and geography to document and analyze spatial data.
Along with Wyatt, two graduate students are responsible for 3D scanning the artifacts, handling them with care, recording metadata and configuring camera and lighting setups. “Our student employees will play a part in helping preserve cultural history, which is awesome. Once the project is complete, the students will have one more set of skills to take with them wherever they move on to next,” Wyatt said.
The digitized collection reduces risks of physical degradation and provide global access through an online platform. The Delaware Nation hopes the effort will encourage younger generations to engage in digital preservation, says Carissa Speck, director of historic preservation for the Delaware Nation.
“With this partnership, we are not only able to extend the life of preservation by creating a digital copy of the object, but we can also use the digital model to increase access and interaction with the object via an online repository. This fosters the Delaware Nation’s mission of revitalizing and perpetuating our cultural heritage for future generations,” Speck said.
Visit OU’s 3D Scanning Lab here.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU was named the state’s highest-ranking university in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent Best Colleges list. For more information about the university, visit ou.edu.
The University of Oklahoma announced today a collaboration with Housr, a resource intended to make it easier for students to access information about off-campus living while strengthening connections between students and the Norman community.
The Soval Series, the University of Oklahoma’s suite of signature student experiences, will return to the historic South Oval on OU’s Norman campus this fall, including Showtime on the Soval featuring Chris Young, Beat Bevo Bash and Holiday Lights. The Soval Series is designed to foster connection, school spirit and memorable traditions among the student body and entire OU community.
Led by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships, the University of Oklahoma has restructured its national security and defense research strategy in support of the Lead On strategic plan, and has named Kevin Stamey as Director of National Security Strategy and Integration, effective August 31.
