Digital Storytelling in Museums with Code-Based Exhibits: The USC Digital Voltaire Project

In a previous post, we received an introduction to visual storytelling platforms (and the concept of “scrollytelling”). This post continues our exploration of storytelling platforms and dynamic display tools with a review of a code-based example: “USC Digital Voltaire.” This project stems from “The USC Voltaire Letters Project: A Polymathic, Multimedia-Rich Digital Initiative” by the University of Southern California (USC).  

For this project, USC used Scalar, an open-source publishing platform developed by the university. Scalar is freely available on GitHub. The project opens with a high-resolution portrait of Voltaire, welcoming visitors into an immersive digital exhibit rooted in primary sources. 

A still photo from “USC Digital Voltaire.” Source: USC Libraries, https://scalar.usc.edu/works/voltaire/index. This image displays the landing page image for the Voltaire online exhibit. 

Upon clicking into the “Browse the Letters” section, visitors are presented with a chronological list of Voltaire’s letters. The exhibit does not offer any additional introduction, instead letting the body of correspondence tell its own story.

The display tools are available when viewing each letter. Because the materials are text-based, the letters are not stunning in a visual sense; however, the embedded information via display tools is a contextual goldmine. 

Details of USC’s Digital Voltaire Project

• Online Exhibit: Digital Voltaire Project 
• Institution: University of Southern California 
• Digital Publishing Platform: University of Southern California’s Scalar (open-source) 

Storytelling Infrastructure 

The storytelling infrastructure for this example is: 

• Story Path: Linear Pathway 
• Storytelling Performance Types: Written, Visual 
• Sensory Setting: Color 

Each letter is a high-resolution scan displayed on the right, paired with a line-by-line translation provided in computer text on the left. Throughout the translated text, there are folded-paper icons, hyperlinked text, and footnotes.  

Tool: Pop-up Information Windows 

Clicking on the folded-paper icon reveals additional contextual information and, in some cases, a visual example. As shown in the example below, the folded-paper icon next to a reference to Frederick the Great’s father triggers a pop-up with background information and a portrait of Frederick William I. 

A still photo from “Voltaire to Frederick the Great – 1742 May 15.” Source: USC Libraries, https://scalar.usc.edu/works/voltaire/voltaire-to-frederick–15-may-1742. This image displays a portion of a letter in the Voltaire online exhibit. At the top is the title of the letter with identification of who Voltaire was writing to and the date of the letter.  

On the left of the screen is a line-by-line transcription of the letter in English with hyperlinks to read more about people, places, and events. On the right is an image of the scanned letter. This image features the pop-up information provided when the folded-paper icon is clicked. 

Tool: Hyperlinked Text 

In this example letter, the hyperlink introduced in line 21 connects the viewer to the second page of the letter, where this quote appears. These hyperlinks are used throughout the letters as reliable page links for when the letter has progressed to the next page. 

“Voltaire to Frederick the Great – 1742 May 15.” Source: USC Libraries, https://scalar.usc.edu/works/voltaire/voltaire-to-frederick–15-may-1742. This image displays a portion of a letter in the Voltaire online exhibit. This section of the translated text has an accompanying hyperlink to show the viewer a scan of the second page of the letter that contains this quote. 

A still photo from “Voltaire to Frederick the Great – 1742 May 15.” Source: USC Libraries, https://scalar.usc.edu/works/voltaire/voltaire-to-frederick–15-may-1742. This image displays a portion of a letter in the Voltaire online exhibit. This section of the translated text has an accompanying hyperlink to show the viewer a scan of the second page of the letter that contains this quote. 

Tool: Footnotes 

The footnotes follow a familiar academic style. As source citations are not needed for an original piece of correspondence, the footnotes are used instead to link to more information, offer citations to letters elsewhere in the collections, and offer interpretation of specific passages that may hold further interest or significance. 

The Digital Voltaire Project in Context 

The Voltaire story is one told through the primary sources themselves. There’s no additional author narration, making this project an unusual entry among the examples reviewed this far. Additionally, USC Libraries’ approach relies on traditional academic tools, such as line-by-line translations, hyperlinks, and footnotes, to present these historical letters with clarity and depth. 

The interlinking of digital surrogates and the layers of contextual information make this an interesting example of a “virtual archives”. Although this example is solidly in the academic area of the story spectrum, its ability to connect meaningful information is a lesson that any storyteller can use. 

For museums and cultural institutions, the Digital Voltaire Project of how to digitally publish collections with layers of interactivity and interpretation. It’s a reference point for designing exhibits that connect users not only with content but with context.