José Solé, Summer 2023

Prelinger Archives

Over the course of the summer, I had the privilege of interning at the Prelinger Archives in Richmond, California. Established in 1982, the Archives stand as a fundamental repository for non-theatrical and amateur films, offering a unique and comprehensive record of 20th century society. I was fortunate to join the project during a pivotal phase in its evolution. In 2022, the Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web provided substantial support to the archives, enabling the expansion of their internal digitization and collection processing capabilities. This expansion involved the incorporation of a team of experienced archivists and infrastructural investment.

Driven by acute historical awareness, the Archives are a living expression of foresight and commitment to principles of open access to a shared public history. The opportunity to work alongside such an experienced team and to engage in conversations with both Rick and Megan Prelinger was truly an enriching experience.

BAVC Media

Founded in 1977, the Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) has been dedicated to increasing cultural participation of underserved communities through media. This commitment is carried out through the development of a variety of programs. BAVC operates on a principle of skill-sharing, granting access to their expertise through initiatives like the Preservation Access Program (PAP). This mission is also exemplified by the commitment of the people working at the coalition. My time as an intern in BAVC preserve was a unique opportunity to be immersed in an organization characterized by openness and high level of specialization.

During the internship I worked with a collection participating in the PAP. Not without first completing BAVC’s “Hands on training with analog video playback equipment” course, a comprehensive and interactive curriculum to learn about analog video and to understand BAVC’s standards involving supervised digitization, trimming, error identification, digital processing, and meticulous reporting.

The privilege of collaborating and learning from Kelley Coyne, Tim Lake, and Kiki Fajardo made this experience truly enriching. Their guidance and dedication, and their genuine concern for the individuals and communities involved is an example that I will remember in future endeavors.