Making an Archivist in a Backpack Starter Kit
Build your own Archivist in a Backpack kit! The list below includes links to all of the items we purchased, as well as suggestions for the number of items to include per kit.
Download this PDF of the supplies list:
Cost can vary dramatically based on if you have a supplier discount or are buying items in bulk. Each of our kits came out to around $175.
Oral History and Archives Kit Backpack Supplies
- Zoom H1 Bundle with Accessory Pack
- MicroSD memory card
- Notepads (set of 3)
- Thank You Cards & Envelopes (set of 10)
- Stamps (block of 10)
- Small Backpacks (this is a set of 24)
- Archival Sleeves: 5×7 (3 mil archival polyester L-Sleeves, 5.5 x 7.5: EM0507L) (10 pack)
- Archival Sleeves: 8×10 (3 mil archival polyester L-Sleeves, 8.5 x 10.5:
- EM0810L) (10 pack)
- Document Sleeves: 1 – 2 mil Polyethylene Envelopes, 11W x 14H, (100 pack, use a subset for each kit)
- Archival Acid-Free Folders (100 pack, use a subset for each kit)
- Cotton Gloves Size Medium (set of 12, include 3 pairs in each kit)
- No. 2 pencils (set of 30, include 2-3 in each kit)
- Bag tags – if you’re lending items and not using barcoding, you can just include a number for each kit to keep track of them
- Feedback cards – Created via VistaPrint. They ask about favorite items, what they used the kits for, and how users would suggest improving them
- Oral history question cards – We used moo.com to create a custom set of business cards with common oral history questions
Archives Kit Roller Bag Supplies
- Bag tags – if you’re lending items and not using barcoding, you can just include a number for each kit to keep track of them
- Feedback cards – Created via VistaPrint specifically for our Mellon grant. They ask about favorite items, what they used the kits for, and how users would suggest improving them
- Epson Flatbed Scanner
- Blank flash cards (set of 100)
- Hardshell Roller Bags
- No. 2 pencils (include 3 in each kit)
- Portable Storage Lexar Jump Drive (include 1 in each kit)
- Cotton Gloves Size Medium (include 3 pairs in each kit)
- Artifact tags (100 pack) – part # 58094 (include 10 in each kit)
- Archival Acid-Free Folders (100 pack)
- Clamshell Box – 10.25 x 15.25 x 3 size (1 per kit)
- Archival Sleeves: 5×7 (3 mil archival polyester L-Sleeves, 5.5 x 7.5: EM0507L) (10 pack)
- Archival Sleeves: 8×10 (3 mil archival polyester L-Sleeves, 8.5 x 10.5: EM0810L) (10 pack)
- Archival Sleeves: 12×17 (3 mil archival polyester L-Sleeves, 12.25 x 17.5:EM1217L) (10 pack)
- Document Sleeves: 1 – 2 mil Polyethylene Envelopes, 11W x 14H, (100 pack, include 10 in each kit)