Preserving Jakarta’s Heritage: Koleksi Kita Digitizes and Catalogs Over 200 Collections from Benyamin Suaeb and MH Thamrin Museums

Through the Jakarta Digital Collections (JDC) initiative, #KoleksiKita, in collaboration with the Jakarta Department of Culture and 12 museums and galleries under its management, continued the digitization and cataloguing of collections throughout October.

This phase focused on the Benyamin Suaeb Museum and the MH Thamrin Museum, as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the city’s museum collection database and documentation system.

More than 165 collection objects were digitized and catalogued at the Benyamin Suaeb Museum, and 41 objects at the MH Thamrin Museum.

This process aims to produce high-quality visual documentation while ensuring that each collection object has verified data that will eventually be accessible through the Jakarta Digital Collections platform.

Preserving Collection Identity through Digitization and Cataloguing

This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to preserve and enhance the accessibility of museum collections in the digital era.

In addition to cataloguing and digitization, the #KoleksiKita team also conducted a collection study to identify the cultural and historical significance of each museum object.

The research also examined the history of each museum building and the general provenance of its collections. Based on these findings, several priority objects were selected for more detailed documentation.

Cataloguing and Digitizing a Wide Range of Museum Collections

At the MH Thamrin Museum, cataloguing and digitization covered a variety of objects, including documents, photographs, musical instruments, tables and chairs, wardrobes, and other artifacts that record the life and legacy of Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin.

Meanwhile, at the Benyamin Suaeb Museum, more than 165 objects were catalogued and digitized, consisting of photographs, framed portraits, vinyl records, certificates, accessories, magazines, and various other items that illustrate the life and artistic journey of Benyamin Suaeb.

This activity is supported by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), which is committed to supporting the preservation of historic buildings, archaeological and cultural sites, museum objects and collections, as well as traditional forms of expression such as languages and music in participating countries.