NORMAN – The Delaware Nation, a federally recognized tribe based in Anadarko, Oklahoma, has received a $75,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through its Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum and Library Services program. The grant will fund a partnership with the 3D Scanning Lab at the University of Oklahoma Libraries to digitize the tribe’s archival and museum artifacts.

The project, titled “Delaware Nation – Digitization of Delaware Nation Collections,” will involve the creation of high-quality, high-resolution 3D models of the tribe’s artifacts using photogrammetry, a 3D scanning method. The digital models will be stored in a cloud-based system, making them accessible to Delaware Nation citizens, researchers and the public through an online digital catalog. Visitors to the Delaware Nation Museum and Library in Anadarko will also be able to view the digitized artifacts onsite.

The collaboration ensures the preservation and accessibility of cultural history for future generations, says Kristi Wyatt, emerging technologies librarian at University Libraries. “By creating these 3D models, we make the collection more accessible online,” she said.

The grant helps buy equipment used in photogrammetry, a process that uses photos to measure and interpret features on a surface, enabling the creation of precise 3D models and maps from 2D images. It is widely used in fields such as engineering and geography to document and analyze spatial data.

Along with Wyatt, two graduate students are responsible for 3D scanning the artifacts, handling them with care, recording metadata and configuring camera and lighting setups. “Our student employees will play a part in helping preserve cultural history, which is awesome. Once the project is complete, the students will have one more set of skills to take with them wherever they move on to next,” Wyatt said.

The digitized collection reduces risks of physical degradation and provide global access through an online platform. The Delaware Nation hopes the effort will encourage younger generations to engage in digital preservation, says Carissa Speck, director of historic preservation for the Delaware Nation.

“With this partnership, we are not only able to extend the life of preservation by creating a digital copy of the object, but we can also use the digital model to increase access and interaction with the object via an online repository. This fosters the Delaware Nation’s mission of revitalizing and perpetuating our cultural heritage for future generations,” Speck said.