Field Work: Trees and Water

The Getty MUI Collections and Curatorial intern will delve into the various processes inherent to collections and curatorial work at the Japanese American National Museum by cataloging, digitizing, rehousing and helping to curate hundreds of photographic negatives from the Toyo Miyatake Photographic Collection. All of this work will culminate in a capstone project that the Collections and Curatorial intern will design to make the Miyatake collection relatable and accessible to a broad audience.

This photographic collection, which comprises the work of well-known studio and fine art photographer Toyo Miyatake, chronicles the Japanese American community in Los Angeles and its vibrancy before the war, the tragic and unjust experience of incarceration during World War II, and the return and resettlement after the war. Toyo Miyatake became well-known for smuggling a camera lens into the Manzanar concentration camp and asking a carpenter to help him to construct a camera body so that he could surreptitiously take photographs to document daily life in camp since cameras were not allowed. Eventually, Miyatake received permission to take photographs at Manzanar and also opened and operated a portrait studio. Although Miyatake is synonymous with the documentation of the World War II incarceration experience, it is remarkable that a significant aspect of his photographic work at Manzanar has never been seen by the public. Through this project, the public will see Manzanar and the World War II incarceration experience through a new lens.

 

Digitizing and making this collection accessible is a joint collaboration between JANM and Alan Miyatake, grandson of Toyo Miyatake and third generation proprietor of Toyo Miyatake Studio.

 

In order to process this collection and make it accessible to the public, the collections and curatorial intern will assign catalog numbers, catalog the objects in TMS (collections management database), work with the digitization specialist on staff to digitize the negatives, research the historical context around the collection and relevant themes that the materials represent, and develop written context for inclusion on JANM’s various public-facing platforms.

Additionally, the negatives in this collection, along with existing materials in the collection will help the intern to develop a capstone project. While the Collections Management and Access and Curatorial departments at JANM are prioritizing work to make more of the permanent collection available through eMuseum, an online platform to display catalog information, a creative capstone project to share these collections with the public–highlighting the intern’s skillsets, talents, and interests–is required. The intern will determine an effective way to share this collection with a broad audience as a final capstone project, which could entail: an online exhibition through eMuseum, a zine, a series of blog posts, a short documentary, or another creative form.

Collections & Curatorial Intern Requirements: Competency in digitization/digital asset management, including scanning, photography, editing photographs in Adobe Photoshop is desired. Experience handling, cataloging, and rehousing archival and 3D artifacts is preferred, but not required. Familiarity with TMS or a collections management database is ideal, but not essential. Strong research and written communication skills are critical. Attention to detail and strong organizational skills are also essential. Google Suite and MS Office required.

 

The Collections and Curatorial Intern will have their own desk in the Collections and Management Access office. They will have a computer with access to the JANM network, internet, scanner, copy stand and printer.  The Collections and Curatorial intern will be expected to come in every day, as well, especially since the hands-on work with the collection materials must be done at the museum.