My second day on this job, though I think we have to count Monday, even though I wasn't officially on the job.
I've completed two of the five interviews I have planned for the reminiscences of Father Burns from his closest friends and volunteers. I'll do another one tomorrow, or maybe two of them. I have written one of them up.
I'm also simultaneously working on a memo of understanding with Hayden Hall that I'll present to Father Kennedy (the director now that Father Burns has, as they say here, "expired."
My wonderful student assistants have been working well on this project. We have a good timeline pretty much done, both for the good Father's life and also for the programs of Hayden Hall. Shika (the first two syllables of Chicago) is also working on the section where we outline the programs and explain a little bit about what each one does.
I will cut and paste a biography of Father Burns and write up the five interviews along with photos of Father Burns and his friends. The newest student, Peter, has spent the last couple of days going through the photo files...incredibly yellowed, dusty, old-fashioned Indian filing systems, enormous notebooks with pockets of little black and white photos...He has put together a pile of photos (keeping each envelope's photos in a separate envelope with the name on it) and has spent the rest of the afternoon scanning them. Father Kennedy has a scanner that allows you to put four or six photos on the plate and run the scan...and it will make a separate file for each photo! None of this cropping photos or dealing with the laborious one-by-one method. Wonderful, huh? I want one. For the digital storytelling project!
We now have lots and lots of photos, though we'll need more. I have taken some of my students, but haven't yet downloaded them to the computer. Before the East Coast wakes up Thursday morning, i should have uploaded the photos that are now gathering humidity in my camera.
This is a satisfying project, I must say. I love writing and writing with deadlines and a bit of pressure for a client is actually lots of fun. Digging into the life and personality of Father Burns is fascinating. I'm obviously not doing a biography... But this is good work, anyway.
Comments