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Spark: UCAR Science Education Records (SciEd)

 Collection
Identifier:  - 01-SPARK

Scope and Contents

The Spark collection consists of educational audio-visual materials used for programming, tour and exhibit notes, including audio tour manuals and scripts from the 1990s, student activities, public visitor program logs, an NCAR history collection, and various correspondence and memoranda related to UCAR/NCAR. The Spark collection records demonstrate UCAR/NCAR's commitment to atmospheric science education and the education program's evolution.

Dates

  • 1959 - 2016
  • Other: Date acquired: 2012-07-30

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.

Biographical / Historical

Spark's overarching goal: to make an impact on public understanding of atmospheric science concepts and process through alliances and partnerships that disseminate proven experience and resources. Spark is now known as UCAR Center for Science Education (SciEd).

Extent

6 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Arrangement is by material type. The collection is housed in 6 record cartons. Cartons 1-2 contain folders, which are arranged alphabetically within each series. Cartons 3-5 contain audio-visual media. Carton 6 contains physical artifacts. The collection is arranged into the following nine series: I. Administrative II. Educational Activities and Resources III. NCAR History IV. NCAR-UCAR Publications Collection V. Project LEARN VI. Tours and Exhibits VII. Workshops IX. Audio-Visual Materials, with Subseries I. Photographs and Slides II. VHS Tapes III. CDs/DVDs IV. Audio Cassette Tapes V. Artifacts.

Physical Access Requirements

The Archives does not have playback equipment for VHS tape viewing nor a slide projector for photographic slide projection.

Technical Access Requirements

Many materials have not been reformatted to a digital medium yet. Some are not available for playback due to preservation concerns associated with playing the originals, or because playback equipment is not available.

Custodial History

Four boxes of audio-visual materials were donated to the NCAR Archives after a storage unit clean out project in 2010. Nine additional boxes, mostly containing records and documents, were transferred to the archives by Tim Barnes and Eileen Carpenter in August and September 2013.

Source of Acquisition

Spark: UCAR Science Education. Accrual 2016-004 was transferred to the Archives by Becca Hatheway and Tim Barnes in 2016.

Appraisal Information

Materials that were not produced by UCAR/NCAR or directly related to UCAR/NCAR were discarded per the NCAR Archives Collection Policy.

Accruals and Additions

Accruals to the collection are expected.

Processing Information

The majority of the audio-visual collection was processed in 2012 by a volunteer. The 2013 accrual was processed in 2015. Materials were removed from hanging file folders and rehoused in acid-free folders and cartons. There was no defined original order so the processing archivist created series to aid access to the materials. The materials were placed in chronological order within each folder. Duplicate copies were removed and recycled. Publications and reference materials were accessioned into existing collections including the UCAR/NCAR Publication Collection (UNPC) and Subject Files. Photographs and slides were sleeved in appropriate preservation enclosures. Various metal fasteners were removed and replaced with archival plastic clips.

Status
Completed
Author
Penelope Neder, updated by Shelley Nayak
Date
20120910
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Archives Repository