2008 Nancy DeLaurier Award
Presented to Kathleen Cohen, California State University, San Jose
Dr. Cohen expressed both her surprise and appreciation on receiving the Nancy
Delaurier award for the development of the WorldImages database for the California
State University. She noted that she wanted to share the recognition with the CSU
Visual Resources curators who contributed so much to the database.
She thanked the Visual Resources Association for the inspiration for the database,
which was developed as a result of a presentation on Videodiscs for Art History she
made in 1990. To develop the disc she had used images from the collection of the
San Jose State University Art Department, and she was surprised when her
presentation was greeted with gasps of horror from the VRA audience. And with this
introduction to the labyrinth of copyright, she decided that the best strategy for
dealing with the new technology was to make sure to own the rights to the imagery.
This led to collaboration with the CSU Visual Resources curators and to an
ever-increasing passion for travel and for photography, which she has been pleased
to share. She thanked members of the VRA for sharing their exploration of image
cataloging, which has been important in the development of standards used in the
WorldImages database. It is great to have colleagues with similar interests!
Nominating Letter to the Nancy DeLaurier Nominating Committee, October 2007:
Step by step. Kathy Cohen has spearheaded an incredible effort to put over 50,000 catalogued images online -- making it all look easy.
Student by student. Kathy attracted students to an environment where they could enhance their skills and accomplish challenges.
Slide by slide. CD by CD. While exploring cool new technology, each student was also required to crop, color-correct, and catalog at least 200 images (which meant deciphering her scribble by scribble of notes).
Sheet by Sheet. Set by set. Somehow Kathy inspired me to spend the summer importing her Excel data sheets into the new EmbARK database and batch linking images.
Call by call. Kathy helped me get a job at Gallery Systems developing EmbARK & knew she could always get help when she needed it.
Country by country. There can't be many places remaining for Kathy to visit and photograph all of their copyright free treasures.
Click by click. Kathy will continue to explore new ways to enable students and faculty anywhere to take advantage of WorldImages.
Cheer by cheer. Let's make a toast in appreciation of Kathy's labor of love and all of the people who have benefited from building and using it.
Robb Detlefs
Student of Kathy Cohen, 1994-1996
Director of Product Management, Gallery Systems
