Celebration of Learning Spotlight: Using Scalar to Display Vanderbilt University’s Drawings of the Woolworth Building

Posted by bowenrs on Thursday, April 5, 2018 in Commentary, Events.

Architectural drawings and history are of interest to many people, but unfolding and examining these documents can be problematic as they’re very delicate, especially if they’re older. However, thanks to Ellen Dement, there may be a way to appreciate and study these drawings without damaging the original document.

For Ellen, the project stated as a library fellowship at Vanderbilt University and then continued through a course in the History of Art department. Under the guidance of Kevin Murphy in the History of Art Department and Marry Anne Caton in the University Library, Ellen created a website that showcases the original Woolworth Building drawings, originally created in 1913.

Ellen says that this website is a great way of visualizing the Woolworth drawings and shows them digitally so that they can be accessed by a larger audience and protect the original documents from damage. This multi-media representation was conceived from her interest in architectural history, and it encouraged her to think more about the curation of digital content so that it can be shared with scholars all over the world.

Student(s): Ellen Dement
Project: Using Scalar to Display Vanderbilt University’s Drawings of the Woolworth Building
Course: HART 3725W: The Skyscraper, Modern Urban Icon
Faculty Sponsor: Kevin Murphy, Ph.D.; History of Art | Marry Anne Caton, M.A.; University Library