Planning for the Future of Historic Preservation: Collections Assessment and Storage Improvement Plan for the Lafayette Historical Society

FAIN: PG-280808-21

Lafayette Historical Society, Inc. (Lafayette, CO 80026-2322)
Krista Barry (Project Director: January 2021 to October 2022)

A visit from a preservation specialist, who would produce a collections assessment report and storage improvement plan and teach a workshop for staff on best practice strategies. The Lafayette Historical Society (LHS) operates the Miners Museum, which was established 35 years ago as a museum of “the history and coal-mining heritage of the town.” In 2019, its mission was expanded to encompass the overall history of Lafayette. The museum’s collection of 4,000 historic objects is oriented toward local audiences, from school groups to exhibition-goers. LHS has digitized 500 items from its collections and made the records available online, sharing them through the Digital Public Libraries of America.

The Lafayette Historical Society is the only organization solely dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the cultural heritage and history of Lafayette, Colorado. Its public-facing institution, the Miners Museum, stands as the only cultural museum in Lafayette, making it the go-to repository for any researcher interested in local history. Caring for a collection of approximately 4,000 historic objects, documents, and photographs, LHS seeks financial support from NEH’s Preservation Assistance Grant to hire a professional conservator to conduct a general assessment of the collection. In addition, the consultant will lead an educational workshop for the staff and volunteers, with site-specific instructions that will immediately improve the care of our collections. This Collections Assessment and Storage Improvement Plan is the next logical step in addressing our storage needs and identifying preservation priorities for the coming decade.