Hidden Collections within Hidden Collections: Providing Access to Printed Ephemera

In May 2009, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded the Tamiment Library at New York University a grant to process its 650-linear-foot "hidden collection" of printed ephemera. As a whole, the collection is a unique and important resource. The library hoped that with improved description and enhanced access, the Printed Ephemera Collections would attract wide-ranging scholarly use. This case study explores the project staff's approach in adapting archival methods to process this backlog of printed ephemera. The study analyzes the complexities and nuances of this project to help other repositories learn from the Tamiment experience as they process their own ephemera holdings. Tamiment's Printed Ephemera Collections continue to grow; this case study reflects on what it means to accommodate and nurture a "living" collection.