Doughty documents artifacts for Knox's Seymour Library archive

Scott Doughty, an art history major and photography minor from Austin, Texas, is putting his love for photography and art history on display in a research project inspired by an internship at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

While working in the collections management and care department of the museum, Doughty cataloged and researched the museum collection. What began as an entry-level internship has developed into "a dream job" that allows Doughty to pursue artifact photography projects that interest him.

"It was one of those random Tuesday night discussions with a few friends. We were talking about what our interests are and I mentioned I needed an internship. Turns out that both of my best friend's parents are entrenched in the Boston arts. His mom works at the Museum of Boston and his dad is one of the top conservators for canvas in the U.S. -- maybe even the world. Being as close as we were as friends, he put in a word," says Doughty. "That is how it happened, being in the right place at the right time."

Each day, Doughty observed a photographer working on tray after tray of pottery for the intellectual property department. "Any image that went in or came out of the museum goes through the Intellectual property office," he says.

Handling artifacts of varying ages and origins seemed like an applicable profession that Doughty wanted to pursue. "I remembered Greg Gilbert [associate professor of Art at Knox] talked about Knox College's own art collection housed in the archives of Seymour Library and how the collection really needed to be recorded," he says.

Returning to Knox, Doughty could be found on the third floor of Seymour Library, tucked at the far corner table in the archive room and surrounded by white poplin panels and amped lighting. Carefully positioning each piece, he snaps a page of history for the archives. Recording history with images goes back to hieroglyphics, but this image pops against the sterile background.

Doughty spent hours during his senior year taking photographs in the climate-controlled archive room of the museum using a digital camera and lighting and staging equipment financed with a Richter grant. Doughty says the equipment used from the Richter grant will remain with Knox's photography club, so it can be used for future projects.

"This project is important in my professional life as well. This will be a great portfolio to show potential employers," Doughty says. "And, I think having these pieces documented will be important to Knox because they illustrate how an artist views history."

Doughty has always loved history and says that art history is not just about textbook names and dates. "Art is something to ground myself in the lessons of history. It keeps me engaged, it is visual. The more I get into it, the more I am interested in the social implication of the art created. Not just the history of the art, but also the history of the culture that produced that art. It has always fascinated me and it is how Greg Gilbert teaches."

It was more than quick shutter speeds and F-stops that got Doughty through this project. Doughty, assisted by Carley Robison and the archive staff, developed a list of the most important artifacts to photograph. Objects in the archives are assigned an accession number. The system will provide immediate access for reference. "It is exciting to think that when I leave Knox, there is something I have done that I left behind," he says.

Doughty handled mostly prints, some Native American baskets, pots, and other artifacts. "I didn't just point and shoot. I made sure I followed the museum style, that they were professional looking with a high resolution. Knox will be able to use these images for any size publications in the future."

The Knox Seymour Library archives include artists from Rembrandt and Goya to Whistlers and Callow. It includes artifacts that date 300 BC and a lot of busts including many of Lincoln, and an extensive print collection. "It is surprising and amazing what is in that collection," Doughty says.

Some amazing history is out there
"In high school, I thought I was going to attend a big university and major in math or science. A high school friend of mine called me while she was touring Knox and told me that I would love this place and I had to check it out. I applied, showed up, and have never looked back," Doughty says. "I am thrilled with Knox. It has opened me up in every way. I don't know what I would do if I had not found that. I would be a much different person."

Doughty plans on moving a little faster in furthering his career goals. He is going to Bulgaria to an archeological field school in the fall. He will be taking photographs of medieval frescos from churches around Bulgaria. "I know that I will be on the bottom tier, but I hope it will open doors for me. I am looking forward to it and I hope something magical comes of it."

Scott Doughty photographed this print by Frances Bond Palmer called "Wooding Up on the Mississippi" that dates to 1863.

This photograph reveals an undated Indian basket that resides at the Seymour Library.