Assessing the Structural and Mechanical Environment at the Cummings Center: A First Step Towards Improved Archival Storage

FAIN: PG-287754-22

University of Akron, Main Campus (Akron, OH 44325-0001)
Cathy Faye (Project Director: January 2022 to March 2024)
Rhonda Rinehart (Co Project Director: August 2022 to March 2024)

An assessment of the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology (CCHP) to examine the structural and mechanical condition of the facility, which houses the Archives of the History of American Psychology.

The Cummings Center, a museum and archives located in Akron, Ohio, requires a building assessment focused on the structural and mechanical aspects of its facility. The Center houses 5,000 linear feet of archival material in the Archives of the History of American Psychology and is home to the National Museum of Psychology. A preservation specialist with knowledge of the interaction between buildings and historical collections will examine the mechanical and structural conditions of the Center’s 65,000 square-foot facility and provide a report outlining the current conditions and capabilities of the building. The goal of this project is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current conditions of the building and its mechanical systems, which will support our long-term goal of planning and implementing improved storage environments that serve the needs of our archival collections

Associated Products

Cummings Center Receives NEH Preservation Grant (Blog Post)
Title: Cummings Center Receives NEH Preservation Grant
Author: Rhonda Rinehart
Abstract: This blog describes the current concerns surrounding collections care at the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology, outlines the objectives of the NEH grant, and describes how they will be met through consultation with a preservation consultant.
Date: 12/5/2022
Primary URL: https://centerhistorypsychology.wordpress.com/2022/12/
Primary URL Description: Link to Cummings Center blog entry
Blog Title: Cummings Center for the History of Psychology Blog: Exploring what it means to be human.

The More You Know (Blog Post)
Title: The More You Know
Author: Rhonda Rinehart
Abstract: In this blog, we describe the findings of a preservation assessment conducted at the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology's Archives. We review how our collections are impacted by heating and cooling systems, humidification, and structural elements of the storage space. We also describe our next steps in improving the conditions of our archival storage, based on findings from this assessment.
Date: 2/1/2023
Primary URL: https://centerhistorypsychology.wordpress.com/2023/02/
Primary URL Description: Blog entry on the Cummings Center blog.
Blog Title: Cummings Center for the History of Psychology Blog: Exploring what it means to be human.

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