UCLA

A comparison of record types from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) museum archives and the registrars, in addition to interviews with archivists, librarians and registrars from NHM and Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) lead to findings that knowledge sharing between museum archives and registrars result in enriched institutional records. This partnership is explored as a mechanism for promoting the services and resources provided by registrars and museum archivists to improve their visibility and permanence within an institution. The thesis is framed against a case study referencing how the Los Angeles County Museum of History, Science and Art (LACMHSA) became two separate institutions: NHM and LACMA; and illustrates how the strong connections between museum archives and registrars records illuminate the potential of collaborative efforts.