Case Study: Chapman University Art Collections achieves a campus-wide digital catalogue and streamlined collection management with Gallery Systems (TMS)

Cataloguing a Museum without Walls

Chapman University Art Collections, a “museum without walls” that cares for 1,000+ contemporary and modern works displayed across campus, faced no central system to track object locations, manage loans and acquisitions, or organize research for classes and exhibitions. To address these challenges the collection selected Gallery Systems and its The Museum System (TMS) to provide a scalable collections management solution.

Gallery Systems configured and deployed TMS, consolidating scattered records into a single database, establishing consistent cataloguing standards, and enabling digital location reporting, loan and acquisition management, and collaborative workflows. The implementation created Chapman’s first art collection database, reduced time spent physically surveying and handling objects, improved location tracking and loan accuracy, and boosted student engagement by giving students hands‑on experience with TMS and tools like the Object Package Explorer.

Chapman University Art Collections

Natalie Lawler

Assistant Collections Registrar and Preparator