Services Overview
We help families, estates and institutions preserve, organise and make sense of photographs, documents and other historical records, so they remain accessible and meaningful over time.
Archival work is rarely a single process.
Collection often move through different stages over time - preservation and organization, to digitisation, research, contextualisation and, where appropriate, legacy presentation.
Our work is scope-based and tailored to the nature, condition and long-term purpose of each collection. Only a limited number of engagements are accepted at any given time, allowing each project to receive the depth of attention required.
The different stages of our process:
01 - PRESERVE
& ORGANISE
02 - DIGITISE
& DOCUMENT
03 - RESEARCH
& DEVELOP
04 - PRESENT
& PUBLISH
MORE THAN DIGITISATION
Digitisation is one part of archival work. The difference is what happens around it.
Type of Services | Scanning / Digitisation Companies | Family History / Genealogy Firms | Adam Archival |
|---|---|---|---|
On-site archival work for large collections | - | - | ✓ |
High-resolution scanning (600 dpi) | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Hard drive / thumb drive for digitised files | ✓ | - | ✓ |
Collection organisation | - | - | ✓ |
File naming & structure | - | - | ✓ |
Metadata & documentation | - | - | ✓ |
Condition assessment | - | - | ✓ |
Preservation handling | - | - | ✓ |
Archival materials & rehousing | - | - | ✓ |
Family tree / lineage | - | ✓ | ✓ |
Historical research & context | - | ✓ | ✓ |
Secure cloud archive | - | - | ✓ |
Progress dashboard | - | - | ✓ |
Weekly progress updates | - | - | ✓ |
Cloud access for authorised beneficiaries | - | - | ✓ |
Digital restoration & derivatives | - | - | ✓ |
Physical archival albums | - | - | ✓ |
Ongoing collection development | - | - | ✓ |
Legacy presentation / publications | - | - | ✓ |
Scanning creates digital files.
Genealogy explains family relationships.
Adam Archival brings the collection together.
PRACTICE GUIDE
A concise overview of Adam Archival, our approach and the work we undertake.
01 - PRESERVE & ORGANISE
Photograhic Archiving
Preservation and organisation of photographic collections, including prints, albums, negatives and slides.
Projects may includes:
-
Condition assessment
-
Surface cleaning and basic preservation handling
-
Digitisation to archival standards
-
Organisation and sequencing
-
Contextual metadata and file naming
-
Light digital restoration for legibility
-
Archival storage and rehousing
The objective is to create a collection that remains intelligible, accessible and usable over time.
Archival Organisation & Storage
Physical organisation and rehousing of photographic and documentary collections using archival-quality materials.
Materials may include:
-
Acid-free and lignin-free albums
-
Archival sleeves and enclosures
-
Protective storage materials
-
Customer archival albums and volumes
-
Personalised archival presentation where appropriate
Storage solutions are determined by the nature, condition and long-term requirements of each collection.
02 - DIGITISE & DOCUMENT
Digital Archive & Access
Digitised collections can be organised into a secure cloud archive, providing authorised family members, beneficiaries or teams with ongoing access to the collection.
For larger or multi-party projects, a cloud-based progress dashboard provides visibility into project status and is updated weekly for transparency.
-
Secure Cloud Archive: Access your collection remotely.
-
Multiple Authorised Users: Share access with beneficiaries, family members or teams.
-
Weekly Project Dashboard: Track progress throughout the project.
Media Digitisation
Selective / Phased
Digitisation of legacy audiovisual formats including VHS, Hi8, MiniDV and cassette recordings.
Where specialist equipment or technical expertise is required, trusted specialist partners may be engaged under Adam Archival's supervision.
Digitisation can be undertaken as part of a broader archival projects or as a defined phase of preservation.
Scanning & Imaging Capability
Equipment currently used and specialist systems available according to project requirements.
Collection Capture
Epson FastFoto FF-680W · Epson Perfection V39 II · Epson Workforce DS-570W
Specialist & Project-Scale Capture
Canon imageFORMULA DR-G Series · Canon Flatbed Scanner Unit · BookTEK 5
Family Tree & Lineage Documentation
Research and visual documentation of family relationships and lineage.
Projects may include:
-
Family tree development
-
Generational mapping
-
Historical timelines
-
Relationship documentation
-
Integration of family history with photographic and documentary records
-
Digital or print presentation
Where appropriate, lineage research can provide the contextual framework through which a photographic or documentary collection can be understood.
03 - RESEARCH & DEVELOP
Historical Research & Contextualisation
Selected Projects
Research undertaken where historical context is important to understanding a collection, person, family, estate or institution.
Research may draw on private and institutional sources, including archives, libraries, newspapers, public records and historical collections.
Projects may include:
-
Historical research
-
Documentary timelines
-
Contextual research
-
Source documentation
-
Research-led narratives
-
Integration of historical material with archival collections
Historical photographs, advertisements, documents and other contemporary records may be incorporated where they help establish context.
Legacy Strategy & Initiative Development
Selected Projects
For selected individuals, families, estates and institutions, archival work may extend beyond preservation and documentation into the development of a broader legacy initiative.
This may include:
-
Legacy vision and conceptualisation
-
Initiative and programme strategy
-
Programme development
-
Partnerships and stakeholder engagement
-
Communications and public presentation
-
Implementation support
Available on a selected, scope-based basis.
04 - PRESENT & PUBLISH
Legacy Presentation
Selected Projects
Development of appropriate ways to present and make an archive accessible beyond it original physical form.
Projects may include:
-
Digital legacy websites
-
Curated digital presentations
-
Exhibitions
-
Commemorative projects
-
Archival displays
-
Public-facing historical resources
Presentation is developed according to the purpose, audience and nature of the collection.
Archival Publications
Selected Projects
Research-led publications developed from significant photographic, documentary or historical collections.
Projects may include:
-
Family and estate histories
-
Corporate and institutional histories
-
Documentary collections
-
Commemorative publications
-
Curated visual histories
Adam Archival can support reserach, archival development, curation and editorial structure, with publication and production undertaken according to project requirements.
Archival Reproductions
Selected Projects
Selected photographs, documents and other visual records may be reproduced for archival, exhibition, heritage or institutional use.
Reproduction may include high-resolution digitisation, appropriate digital restoration, colour and tonal correction, archival-quality printing and reproduction documentation.
Original source material is preserved separately from any restored or enhanced derivative.
Reproduction is undertaken only where appropriate rights and permission have been established.
FROM RECORD TO LEGACY
An archive does not have to end with preservation.
Depending on the collection and its purpose, archival work may progress from preservation and organisation to research, interpretation, presentation and legacy.
Preserve. Organise. Research, Contextualise. Present. Continue.
Every collection is different. We determine the appropriate scope together, based on the material itself and what you want the collection to become.