When I joined the Library of Congress 3D Digital Modeling, Imaging, and Printing Working Group I had no idea I’d soon be photographing a bronze cast of Abraham Lincoln’s right hand. The original cast, created by sculptor Leonard Wells Volk in 1860, shows Lincoln’s hand gripping a sawed-off broomstick—a detail added at the sculptor’s suggestion to stabilize Lincoln’s hand during the sitting. That same cast became one of the Library’s first publicly released 3D models.
The 3D Working Group was formed to explore how new imaging technologies might make select physical objects from the Library’s vast collections accessible online as interactive models and downloadable 3D prints. I joined as a UX designer and subject matter expert to help evaluate tools and guide artifact selection. Reviewing an early list of proposed items, I flagged potential scanning challenges—including objects that were highly reflective, transparent, or visually flat (like campaign buttons), which would not render well via photogrammetry or result in compelling 3D prints.
Together, our cross-functional group included representatives from Conservation, the Digital Scan Center, Learning and Innovation, Labs, Digital Strategy, Rare Books, and Design & Development. Over a dozen LOC staff were trained in photogrammetry by Cultural Heritage Imaging, earning certification in “Photogrammetry for Scientific Documentation.” In just a few days, we created and published two models: the cast of Lincoln’s hand and a medieval manuscript (the Exposicio mistica).
The project marked the first time the Library shared 3D models on labs.loc.gov and on Sketchfab, using the Smithsonian’s open-source Voyager viewer. I printed both models at home using my personal 3D printer—and seeing Lincoln’s hand emerge layer by layer in resin was a surreal moment.
The models were shared freely, along with downloadable STL files for educators, students, researchers, and curious minds. Use cases ranged from classroom engagement to preservation modeling. But the pilot had limits. One major challenge was the collection itself: many Library artifacts—flat works on paper, books, audio reels—don’t translate easily to 3D modeling. The narrow pool of viable items meant our pilot was always a bit constrained, and without a sustainable pipeline of future artifacts, the project lost momentum after its initial release.
Even so, the LOC 3D pilot was a pivotal experience. It shaped how I think about prototyping, metadata, and the messy translation between physical and digital forms.
