Enhanced Preservation and Access for DePauw University's Works on Paper Collection

FAIN: PG-252800-17

DePauw University (Greencastle, IN 46135-1736)
Craig Ray Hadley (Project Director: May 2016 to July 2018)

Purchase of rehousing supplies and five flat file cabinets to alleviate overcrowding and consolidate print collections owned by DePauw University. Holdings included in the rehousing project include: a teaching collection of old master prints from the Carnegie Corporation, surrealist prints by Salvador Dali, and works by Midwestern 20th-century printmakers such as Richard Mock, Paul W. Darro, and George Jo Mess. An important and heavily used collection of Japanese postwar prints representing over 40 different artists would also be rehoused in its entirety. As part of the university’s renewed commitment to collection care, the purchase of new storage equipment would support recommendations from a 2014 Museum Assessment Program evaluation and 2015 Strategic Plan for Collection Care.

The Galleries at Peeler on the campus of DePauw University respectfully requests $4,348 to purchase five Mayline flat files, along with unbuffered interleaving tissue to support rehousing efforts. These new flat files will house approximately 220 works on paper from the permanent collection, ranging from an early gift of historic teaching prints from the Carnegie Foundation to Japanese postwar prints. The objects directly support a variety of teaching and research needs at DePauw University, including undergraduate projects, faculty use, and exhibitions. Per a 2014 Museum Assessment Program site visit, the external reviewer recommended the consolidation of the university art collection in one location. Expanding flat file capacity is vital to centralization efforts, and will also alleviate overcrowding while improving access to works on paper. This project is part of a larger collections consolidation project and is included in the board approved 2015-2020 gallery strategic plan.