Improving Preservation and Disaster Practices at The Filson Historical Society

FAIN: PG-271621-20

Filson Historical Society (Louisville, KY 40208-2306)
Danielle Spalenka (Project Director: January 2020 to January 2023)

A preservation needs and disaster preparedness assessment to improve the care of over two million items documenting the history of Kentucky and the Ohio Valley Region. Most notably, the collection includes original materials related to the Lewis and Clarke expedition, including sources pertaining to the life of the enslaved man whom William Clarke brought on their journey. The award would also provide four data loggers to monitor environmental conditions in a new storage space, as well as the historical society’s exhibition area.

The Filson Historical Society seeks funds to contract an independent consultant to conduct a general preservation needs assessment and for disaster preparedness training for staff and area archivists. In addition, funds would be used to improve preservation practices with the purchase of HOBO data loggers to be used in the new collection storage spaces. The assessment will evaluate the Filson’s special collections, which consist of paper-based materials, photographs, oversized collections, and audio-visual collections. The assessment will result in a written report that will provide preservation priorities and will serve as the map for preservation planning and goals for the Filson. The ability to purchase additional HOBO data loggers would expand the environmental monitoring practices to all collection storage areas.