Things have been happening in the Archives behind the scenes this past Winter. As we transition into Spring (I think?), I thought I’d share just a couple of new developments that we are all very excited about.

At the end of February, the Center welcomed Associate Archivist Xavi Danto. Xavi comes to Cranbrook Archives with five years of experience in a variety of academic and cultural heritage settings. Among other things, they have worked with web archives at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, born-digital art for Rhizome at the New Museum, and architecture faculty papers at Pratt Institute Archives. A Visual and Critical Studies graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago, Xavi received their MS in Library and Information Science with an Advanced Certificate in Archives from Pratt Institute in 2025.

Xavi brings a personal passion for all things Cranbrook and an impressive enthusiasm for archival work that has already proven invaluable in their short time here. So far, they’ve been busy assisting with the preservation of both physical and digital materials, implementing new digital preservation tools, and diving into the arrangement and description of their first institutional records collection. Join us in welcoming Xavi and look forward to hearing from them on the blog soon!

I’m also pleased to announce the launch of the Cranbrook Archives Janice and Barry King Visiting Scholars Fellowship. An annual award for qualified researchers, whose work will benefit from utilizing our collections in person, stipends are now available to offset travel costs associated with one-to-two-week visits. We invite interested artists and scholars with projects leading to publication, lecture, film, public performance, or exhibition to learn more and apply through the Center’s website.

Lastly, we’ve added new materials to our collection finding aids, like the Clifford Bateman and Joy Griffin West Papers, and digital collections, like this fabulous photo of Melvyn and Sara Smith on the unfinished terrace of their Frank Lloyd Wright home. Be sure to check both sites regularly for the latest additions!

—Deborah Rice, Head Archivist, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research