Collections Storage and Environmental Monitoring Improvement

FAIN: PG-233172-16

Edmond Historical Society, Inc. (Edmond, OK 73034-3873)
Deborah Derby Baker (Project Director: April 2015 to June 2017)

Purchase of equipment for environmental, light, pest, and flood monitoring, as well as improved storage through the purchase of new shelving and plastic sheeting for dust exclusion. The Edmond Historical Society and Museum contains over 35,000 artifacts, photos, and documents relating to the history of Edmond, Oklahoma Territory, from the Land Run of 1889 up to the present. A majority of the collection items are photographs and paper-based documents, including the image archive of the Edmond Sun newspaper. The museum has recently surveyed its object and textile collections, which include diverse objects such as scouting uniforms, farm implements, jailhouse doors, and rugs.

The Edmond Historical Society and Museum (EHS&M) is requesting funds to assist with the completion of projects to improve environmental monitoring throughout the museum, protect collection items in storage and add much needed shelving in the furniture storage area. Collections at EHS&M consist of over 35,000 artifacts, photos and documents relating to the history of Edmond, Oklahoma Territory before the Land Run days of 1889 up to the present. Objects vary in size from a large and heavy cast iron forge and stove to very small items layered many to a box. Our recent preservation study identified problem areas and provided a number of recommendations that can be addressed fairly quickly by the museum staff and provide significant benefit for the impacted collection areas. This request is targeted at those recommendations for upgrades to our environmental monitoring, light monitoring, better pest control strategies and equipment, flood alarms, dust exclusion and shelf storage.