Preservation Assessment for Nicholls State University Archives and Special Collections

FAIN: PG-252886-17

Nicholls State University (Thibodaux, LA 70310-6701)
Helen Thomas (Project Director: May 2016 to August 2019)

A preservation assessment of more than 12,000 linear feet of archival materials consisting of manuscripts, university records, newspapers, maps, rare books, and other items related to the history, politics, economy, culture, and geography of south Louisiana.

The Archives and Special Collections at Ellender Memorial Library, Nicholls State University, are comprised of manuscript materials and university records that provide resources for research in regional history and culture (as well as broader humanities based topics) to the university community and the general public. Of particular regional and national interest are the papers of Allen J. Ellender, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1937 to 1972. His papers contain documentation relating to his work with agriculture, foreign policy, and other historically significant legislation of the 20th century. Through this grant, the Archives seeks support to hire a consultant to perform a general preservation needs assessment for our collections and storage conditions. The grant will also support the purchase of data loggers to enable us to consistently and reliably monitor our collections storage environment, as well as archival quality film cans to rehouse at-risk films in our collection.