Linking Items, Connecting Content: The Donald Thomson Collection

Contemporary collection documentation is the result of complex histories and processes, including the effects of resourcing, technological change, and evolving organizational approaches to dissemination and display. This chapter will use the Donald Thomson Collection as a case study to explore these ideas in more detail, demonstrating that, rather than a clear linear progression from internal analog practices to digital accessibility, the recent history of collection organization and documentation is more complex. Examining the past also suggests ways in which contemporary practice could be reshaped to further support users and communities in an increasingly digital world.