An Example of WHY Capturing is Important to History

As my first example of a classroom "Curated Virtual Museum Collection" I chose a series of objects that one can buy for less than $20.  They aren't all that expensive nor rare... for now.  Here is a sample.

Chienco Santa - Tobacco Tin circa 1980

The Matter and Form scanner did an excellent job of capturing this object with a single 'Quick Scan'.  The result will be even better when I add a second scan directed at capturing the top and bottom.  But, even if scanned flawlessly, the question remains.  Why pick this object as an example of preserving history.

The answer is TIME and LIGHT.  Right now we can find very nice examples of this object on eBay or Etsy.  But, like ALL things, time and light, have a way of taking away this luxury.  In fact, I have not one; but, TWO examples of the Santa.  They were probably created around the very same time.  However, today, just under 40 years later, they look VERY different.

Time and Lack of Care Ravage a Santa

It is obvious from this photo that the Santa on the right has been sitting in a well-lit spot over an extended period of time.  And, that leads us to believe that the Santa on the left could face that very same fate given enough time if not well protected.

The ratio of perfect examples as compared to less-than-perfect examples inevitably changes over time.  When they first came off the for there were more prefect than not.  But, as the years roll by there will eventually be more damaged than perfect.  In fact, the Santa on the left is actually LESS perfect now than when I first received it due to my carelessness.  There is a small dent near the bottom in the back caused by my picking it up by the head not realizing that the head slides off easily.

These objects represent the work of a company of around 600 people working at Cheinco, in the small town of Burlington, New Jersey.  (By the way, if you ever get by that way, the Burlington County Historical Society has some toys and other items created by Cheinco.)

It's hard to imagine that any company in the future would resume the production of tin objects like this when plastic is so prevalent and inexpensive.  Therefore, they represent a snapshot in time that will probably never exist again.

By scanning these objects in the best condition possible, as faithfully as possible, we can capture that history for others to see and appreciate in a very tangible way.  We can't duplicate the tin; but, we can duplicate the overall effect of the design on the tin and capture some of the documentation, such as the printing on the bottom that gives us some clues about the maker.

Perhaps, even immediately MORE importantly, the scanning and curation process encourages us to know more about the item, more about the company and more about the people that worked in that factory.  We are, in effect, also capturing a day in THEIR life.  And, that is very, very cool.

Should a descendent, long into the future, want to know more about what their ancestor did in 1980, the virtual museum exhibit will be there waiting for them long after ALL the tin objects have faded like Santa #2.

And, that is justification enough.  :)

P.S. If you clicked on any of the links in this page, you have experienced another benefit of our having selected the Cheinco tins as our example.  Would you really have visited the Cheino article, the Burlington, NJ pages or the Burlington County Historical site had we not written about our Santa?  Yes, it is true.  3D Motivates!