Phase 2 of Developing Storage and Housing Spaces for Humanities Collections

FAIN: PG-251598-17

Good Will-Hinckley (Hinckley, ME 04944-0159)
Deborah W. Staber (Project Director: April 2016 to June 2018)

The rehousing of over 450 artworks and artifacts related to the daily life of children living in Good Will-Hinckley Homes, childcare centers and orphanages that operated in Maine in the 19th and 20th centuries.  The collections include farming and ice-cutting tools used by the boys, and fabric arts and rug-making equipment used by the girls, which help to show the work skills taught to those under the care of the Good Will centers. A conservator would assist in the installation of new storage furniture and train museum staff in collections care.  The applicant would continue to use the collection to tell the history of childcare and children’s education through exhibits.

The L.C. Bates Museum's project preservation goal is to improve collection's care and storage by developing a new storage space and storing significant historical collections. These materials are relevant to the history and study of Good Will Homes, designed institutional landscapes and the history of childhood and childcare. To achieve this goal, we propose to work with conservator Ron Harvey to implement the recommendations of our past conservation assessments by methods outlined in Harvey's letter of commitment and storage treatment recommendations. This project is a priority of our 2008 RECAP, 2014 MAP and 2013-2017 long range conservation plan. The project is designed to turn an unused room on the museum's second floor into appropriate storage space for humanities objects, purchase shelving and storage supplies, train staff in storage methods, store the project collections, and present a public workshop on Storage Management in a Small Museum.