We are delighted to highlight the work of Archival Assistant Megan Sands (UChicago, MAPSS in Anthropology '25, MA in Middle Eastern Studies '27), whose careful and sustained efforts have transformed access to the Antoin Sevruguin photographic collection in the ISAC Archives.
Archival Assistant Megan Sands Transforms Photographs of Antoin Sevruguin
January 30, 2026
Archival Assistant Megan Sands.
Working throughout the fall quarter with ISAC’s new archivist Allie Scholten and ISAC Data Research Center Director Foy Scalf, Megan undertook the detailed processing, rehousing, and description of this remarkable collection of late nineteenth–early twentieth century photographs by Iranian photographer Antoin Sevruguin, documenting Iran, the Caucasus, and surrounding regions. Her work resulted in a newly updated, public-facing archival finding aid that brings greater clarity, consistency, and discoverability to one of ISAC’s most frequently consulted photographic collections.
Boxes housing the Sevruguin photographs.
Megan cataloged, labeled, and reorganized each box, folder, and item in the entire collection. Every item record is now directly linked both to a digital version of the photograph and to its associated bibliography, including references to the exhibition catalog Antoin Sevruguin: Past and Present (OIMP 40), curated and edited by Tasha Vorderstrasse.
2020
Series / Volume
Oriental Institute Museum Publications 40
Explore the changing world of late nineteenth-century Iran through the gaze of one of its most renowned photographers, Antoin Sevruguin. This volume, which will be accompanied by a forthcoming…
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This integration allows users to move seamlessly between archival description, publication context, and image access, such as in this example of an item-level record:
https://isac-idb.uchicago.edu/id/5667212f-f140-4a7c-a463-906eb19609f6
You can explore all the records and the updated archival finding aid through the ISAC institutional repository:
https://isac-idb.uchicago.edu/id/e14686ec-93af-4b88-9a16-e53db79736bf
Photograph by Sevruguin during rehousing.
Megan’s work during the fall quarter reflects the collaborative strength of ISAC’s archives and research infrastructure, and we are grateful for her outstanding contributions to the stewardship and accessibility of this important collection.
#UChicago #ISAC #Archives #Photography #AntoinSevruguin #MuseumArchives #ResearchInfrastructure #DigitalCollections #CulturalHeritage
Sevruguin photographs during rehousing and cataloging.