Xerography Research Files
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Nesbitt, Esta
setName: label: See more items in
content: Esta Nesbitt papers
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 2.5 Linear Feet (Box 2-4, 11, OV 16)
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1966-1974
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.nesbesta, Series 4
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Xerography Research Files are arranged by predominant format: printed material, notebooks and notes, and xerography studies.  However, due to the nature of the material, all formats are mixed throughout the series.  The Xerox brochures and notebooks are arranged alphabetically, and the folders containing loose notes and the xerography studies are arranged chronologically.

Notebooks labeled Xerox Xplore 1-3 are arranged in multiple folders to accommodate a large number of enclosures and for preservation purposes.  The loose contents of Xerox Xplore 1 were previously moved to a separate folder and their original order is unknown.  For Xerox Xplore 2, the original location of the enclosures is noted on inserts.  Xerox Xplore 3 was disassembled and enclosures were kept in their original location.

Xerography materials also can be found in the Projects and Exhibitions series. Documents with related topics can also be found in the Correspondence, Writings, Projects and Exhibitions, and Printed Material series.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Xerography Research Files include brochures, clippings, notebooks, loose notes, photographic slides and transparencies, and xerography studies.  "Xerox Xplore," what Nesbitt called her experiments with xerography, is the prominent subject of the series.  However, the series also contains references to many other projects, people, equipment, materials, and techniques.  Annotations exist throughout the series.  

Brochures are for specific Xerox machine models, referred to throughout the series, and paper types. Clippings concern color, equipment, tools, and techniques related to film, photography, xerography, computer art, computerized communications, computer and video animation, copyrights, and patents.

Notebooks contain lists, ideas, plans, diagrams, sketches, artwork, handwritten tape and conversation transcripts, phone messages, inventories, printed materials, reading notes, and correspondence.TTitles listed below were derived from Nesbitt's handwritten titles appearing on the the covers.  Notes mainly concern xerography materials, equipment, techniques, and processes, including the possibilities of working with color.  Her work with color is most prevalent in the notebooks labeled: "Xerox Think-Bank Color," "Xerox Xplore 3 Chromacapsagraphics," and "Xerox Xplore Chroma-Capsagraphy."  In addition to bound notebooks, there are two folders with loose notes, and some of the notebooks were unbound for preservation purposes.
  
Xerography studies contain photocopied images as well as source images and materials for Nesbitt's xerography experiments.  Notes regarding materials, equipment, techniques, processes, and dates of creation are located on the back of images and loose notes between images.  Inventory charts, located in the notebook labeled "Xerox Xplore 2," document many of the prints created for the xerography experiments with a short description of specific studies, date of creation, size, equipment, and technique used.