Preserving Woodrow Wilson Papers

FAIN: PG-50234-08

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Foundation (Staunton, VA 24401-4332)
Eric James Vettel (Project Director: May 2007 to April 2009)

A preservation assessment of archival materials relating to the life and presidency of Woodrow Wilson, including the papers of President Wilson's personal physician and confidante, documents and photographs from Wilson's military driver during battlefield tours, and correspondence from the family of Wilson's first wife. The purchase of archival supplies will be used to rehouse documents and photographs.

By establishing the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library as a private, non-profit educational institution and launching its new Wilson eLibrary, a digital archive that provides free and open access to historical materials by, to, or about Woodrow Wilson, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library has unexpectedly been given over 18,000 never-before-seen documents and photographs from private donors that have never been assessed for preservation needs, with many more anticipated. These collections have already been identified by scholars as critical for historical research. The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library requests $5,000 to hire a consultant to conduct a preservation assessment of these new materials that provides recommendations on their safe and proper handling and to purchase recommended archival supplies for these new collections.