Regional Digital Imaging Center

The Regional Digital Imaging Center (RDIC) at The Athenaeum of Philadelphia offers affordable scanning services in a museum setting. This environment allows for the safe handling and storage of original materials. Unlike commercial scanning operations, the staff of the Regional Digital Imaging Center has extensive experience handling rare, fragile, and historic documents and artwork. The RDIC operates by appointment only.
Fascinating Facts About RDIC

The RDIC has scanned:
  • Several copies of the Declaration of Independence
  • An original copy of the Bill of Rights
  • The Treaty of Paris
  • A copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by Abraham Lincoln
  • The witness book of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
  • Papers of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Morris and Benjamin Franklin
  • A Lunar Photograph
  • Surveys of ancient Egyptian tombs
  • Design drawing for the ENIAC computer
  • Date of oldest item scanned: Thomas Holme’s plan for the City of Philadelphia, 1683
  • Longest Item scanned: The Deed of Settlement of the Philadelphia Contributionship measured 44 ft. long by 1 ft. wide. Scanned in 23 passes and digitally stitched.
  • Largest item scanned: A 99 sq. ft. mural on three 3×11 ft. boards. Scanned in six passes and digitally stitched. The resulting file was 4 GB.
  • Total number of scans since 2004: Over 115,000

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