Daguerreobase

collective cataloging tool for daguerreotypes

developed by the Nederlands Fotomuseum

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About Daguerreobase
The Daguerreobase is an online application designed to contain detailed information about daguerreotypes. Members can view, edit and store records of individual daguerreotypes and establish relations to other records based on a wide range of characteristics. This includes collections, owners, creators, hallmarks, housing models, sizes, materials and free text descriptions.

Mission
The Daguerreobase is intended as an non-profit research project to collect and generate as much knowledge on daguerreotypes as possible, to the benefit of all those interested: institutions, researchers, conservators, traders and owners, both professional and non-professional.

History
The Daguerreobase project was initiated in 2004 by the Conservation department of the Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam. By that time, the conservation studio had seen a multitude of daguerreotypes coming and going. The process of conservation usually involved extensive condition reports and visual documentation, both externally and internally.

Realizing the amount of precious information disclosed during the conservation process, head of the department Hans de Herder saw the necessity of an independent and open system to centralize this information on an international, cross-institutional level. Nickel van Duijvenboden, Herman Maes and Boudewijn Ridder developed a primary database using Filemaker Pro. In 2009, the completed database was converted to an online application.

The first online version of the Daguerreobase was launched in March 2009. Currently the software is still a beta version, though it is fully functional and open for registration. Where needed, the developers and editors are actively testing and optimizing the Daguerreobase. Users are welcome to participate in the process of making the Daguerreobase as steady and complete as possible.

Membership
For basic user accounts, there is a relatively small membership fee. The fee is required to keep the Daguerreobase independent and self-sustaining. In addition, it is meant to ensure reliability. Institutions are asked to pay a larger contribution. For them, the Daguerreobase can function as a platform for scientific exchange. There is a trial account available for those interested in testing the functionality of the Daguerreobase.