Research Paper Process
- Identify the painting or object that you wish to research. You may check the list of Objects Needing Research (link) below to see what research is needed, or to get ideas.
- Contact the Research Chair by e-mail to confirm that the work of art does not already have a research paper, or does not have one in progress, and to discuss ideas, recommendations, and dates, and to answer any questions that you have.
- Contact the Research Chair by e-mail to confirm that the work of art does not already have a research paper, or does not have one in progress, and to discuss ideas, recommendations, and dates, and to answer any questions that you have.
- Consult the Research Paper Guidelines
- Review the Research Paper Guidelines for research paper requirements, and suggestions on information to consider when writing, for resources, and formatting particulars.
- Complete your paper in a reasonable time frame, that you and the Research Chair have agreed to. Let the Research Chair know if more time is needed.
- Submit a draft of your completed paper in electronic form, by email, to the Research Chair for the first review. Save it as .doc not .docx please.
- The Research Chair will review your research paper, make comments and suggestions, and return the paper to you for your revisions, if necessary.
- Once these revisions are completed, your paper is to be returned to the Research Chair who will then forward it to the Education Department for their review and possible comment.
- If they ask for revisions, it will be returned to you again and after you have made the Education Department’s requested revisions, you return your paper once again to the Research Chair who will review it once again and forward it back to the Education Department again.
- When your paper is completed to their satisfaction, they will then submit the paper to the appropriate curator for their review. While this is a long process, it ensures that all of the departments of the Museum who need to have input will have that opportunity.
- Once your paper has been reviewed by the appropriate curator you will again be notified of any changes or revisions that they request, and you will return your revised paper through the Research Chair once again. Or your research paper will be granted final approval.
- When final approval is given by the curator, the final form of your paper is submitted to the Research Chair and forwarded it to the Webmaster who will post it on the Docent Website.
- Thank you for contributing to the collective knowledge of the Docent Council!