A Preservation Assessment of Jacksonville Public Library Special Collections

FAIN: PG-258424-18

Jacksonville Public Libraries Foundation, Inc. (Jacksonville, FL 32202-3505)
Laura Minor (Project Director: May 2017 to March 2021)

A preservation assessment and staff training in preservation basics and disaster preparedness for local history materials in Jacksonville, Florida.  The collection comprises books and documents about Florida. Some highlights include 14,000 photographs and negatives from the estate of local photographer Loyd Sandgren; the papers of Joseph Lee, an early black lawyer in the area, and David H. and Florida C. Dwight, who sought to improve life for local African Americans in the first half of the 20^th century; genealogies focusing on the Southeastern United States and the original colonies; censuses, city documents, military rosters, pension records, and Spanish land grants; papers by Seminole Wars participant Isaac Ogden; and materials related to composer Frederick Delius, who lived in Jacksonville.  The collection is used by students, authors, newspaper columnists, genealogists, city planners, historians, and the public.

The Special Collections Department of the Jacksonville Public Library owns print and non-print materials related to local African American history, Genealogy, Federal Documents, North Florida, composer Frederick Delius, and a variety of maps, photographs and manuscripts. These materials are used to support the needs of students, researchers and authors worldwide.  While many of the items are recent (19th-21st century), there are also books published as early as the 1600's. The storage and handling conditions of these older and delicate items are in need of professional evaluation. The proposed project will involve 1) developing detailed plans for improving storage of these collections; 2) assessing the conservation treatment needs of selected items in the collections; 3) training Special Collections staff in preservation basics and disaster preparedness and 4) implementing preventive conservation strategies that ensure the safety, security and longevity of the collections.