Lawrence University’s Teakwood Room: A Plan for Preservation of a Global Humanities Treasure

FAIN: PG-280721-21

Lawrence University of Wisconsin (Appleton, WI 54911-5798)
Beth Zinsli (Project Director: January 2021 to September 2024)

A general preservation needs assessment and an item-specific survey of the Alice G. Chapman Teakwood Room, to be completed by the Midwest Art Conservation Center (MACC). As the only remaining complete, carved teakwood room created by the designer Lockwood de Forest in the 1890s, the Teakwood Room is a distinctive part of the cultural heritage of Wisconsin, but it has lacked the specialized care and institutional support necessary for the preservation of its delicate and unique materials and objects. The professional assessment would help Lawrence University develop a strategic preservation plan to enable greater access to the room and its objects for research and education. Additionally, the MACC staff would give a presentation about the field of object conservation for Lawrence University museum studies students. Improved access to the Teakwood Room would enable students to gain professional experience without leaving the campus.

Lawrence University is seeking a National Endowment for Humanities Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions to support a General Needs Assessment and Item-Specific Survey of the Alice G. Chapman Teakwood Room, to be completed by the Midwest Art Conservation Center. The Teakwood Room is a University treasure and a distinctive part of Wisconsin’s cultural heritage, but one that has unfortunately lacked the specialized care and institutional direction necessary for the preservation of its delicate and unique materials and objects. Ours is the only remaining, complete, carved Teakwood Room created by the designer Lockwood de Forest in the 1890s; it is an extraordinary example of global material culture located in the Midwest. The professional conservation assessment and survey will allow Lawrence University to continue to steward the room and its objects responsibly and expand access to larger and more diverse audiences for research and education.