To Assess and Preserve The Cooper Union's Archives and Special Collections

FAIN: PG-287619-22

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (New York, NY 10003-7120)
Mary Mann (Project Director: January 2022 to November 2024)

A preservation assessment for the Cooper Union Archives and Special Collections, as well as training for staff in collections care and the purchase of preservation supplies.

Cooper Union Archives and Special Collections (CUASC) documents the decisions, work, and events that have made Cooper Union a uniquely important institution, including its commitment to free education for people of all genders, races, and religions, and to its provision of a platform for free speech and public programming through the historic Great Hall. The CUASC also collects material on Cooper Union founder, industrialist, and politician Peter Cooper, and his family. Dating back to the 18th century, the collection includes photos, manuscripts, objects, and publications that document the people, the politics, and the ideas that shaped the City of New York, higher education, and the nation. This grant will support a General Preservation Assessment of all onsite physical collections and preservation training of staff conducted by an NEDCC consultant. The grant will also provide a modest amount for recommended archival supply purchases.