The Use of Non-Destructive Archaeological Methods to Digitise and Present Uncatalogued and Privately-Owned Material Culture Collections and Associated Object Biographies.

Attending a museum to view extensive collections of objects and learn about the Holocaust is relatively easy. But what about the unseen, private and uncatalogued collections of material culture in the possession of Holocaust survivors and their families?

This thesis proposes a foundation for presenting these collections, allowing researchers to access them, document them without the owner having to permanently 'give up' their personal objects, and present them in an informative and interactive format.

The owners of the collections were met at a Windermere Children’s reunion event, and participants were later interviewed to provide unique insights and stories that will help future viewers gain a deeper understanding through the development of innovative object biographies.

In this research project, three digital reconstruction techniques (Photogrammetry, Structured-light scanning and 3D laser Scanning) were applied to private collections of Holocaust material culture to create digital reconstructions.

Combining these biographies with digital reconstructions, along with other media, enabled the development of a proof-of-concept online platform to outline a format for presenting them.

From collecting this data, it became evident that, for digital reconstruction, there is no single definitive method among the three techniques chosen for this project. It is paramount that for research of this nature, where possible, all techniques are available or that the most appropriate for the collection being documented is selected.

The object biographies created are a new way of learning about the Holocaust, by providing the unique insights explored. They provide viewers with a more relatable experience promoting a deeper understanding and empathy. It was also found that there is no definitive method for presenting the object biographies and accompanying materials. However, a format was created that future researchers can use to develop a comprehensive digital exhibition that fits the needs of the collections they are documenting.

Finally, it can be concluded that the aims of the project were achieved through the development of a proposed foundation of presenting Holocaust Material Culture and concepts that can be taken and developed to ensure that, regardless of the private collection, they can be documented without the owners having to part with them and presenting the personal stories attached to them effectively.

Objects from private collections, along with their biographies, contribute to the Windermere Children’s story and to wider Holocaust education.