Assessment of Shaker Heritage Society Collections and Preservation Training for Staff and Volunteers

FAIN: PG-266791-19

Shaker Heritage Society (Albany, NY 12211-1004)
Lorraine Weiss (Project Director: February 2019 to March 2021)

A preservation assessment of the Shaker Heritage Society’s collection of 600 items, composed of household and workshop objects, including Shaker-made chairs, sewing boxes, and tools; photographs; archaeological specimens from daily life, such as ceramic fragments and pipe stems; and textiles. The consultant who would perform the assessment would also train staff and volunteers on the handling of historical objects. The collection supports educational initiatives on Shaker culture through cultural tourism programs, workshops, local exhibits, outreach programs at schools and senior living facilities, and special events on the Shaker Heritage Society property, which serves an average of 15,000 visitors per year.

The project will improve physical control of our collections through a full preservation assessment and a short training workshop for staff and volunteers on object handling. Recommendations from this assessment will be used to improve our preservation practices, and inform the development of new policies and procedures, laying a foundation for stronger intellectual control of the collection.