General Preservation Assessment of the Special Collections at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

FAIN: PG-252207-17

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-2999)
Kelly Jo Smith (Project Director: April 2016 to July 2017)
Jingfeng Xia (Project Director: July 2017 to June 2019)

A preservation assessment of special collections at East Stroudsburg University. A consultant would provide preservation recommendations to provide better long-term care for two collections in particular: the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection, consisting of 16,000 items with oral histories, photographs, sheet music manuscripts, audio recordings, and accompanying materials, mostly from the 1940s; and the Sterling Strauser Collection of outsider art, including about 200 works by folk artists.

Concerns related to the storage and management of the Sterling Strauser Collection and the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection, in addition to the preparation for a move to the new building, necessitate a preservation assessment by a professional consultant trained in the care of cultural collections. The consultant will survey the collections, review policies regarding collection management, and evaluate storage and exhibit areas to identify strengths and potential vulnerabilities, and will recommend steps to take to ensure the longevity of the collections. A written report created by the consultant will assist those involved with the management of the collections in prioritizing time and funds for future projects.