General Preservation Assessment Project

FAIN: PG-287820-22

Albemarle County Historical Society (Charlottesville, VA 22902-5245)
Charles Thomas Chapman (Project Director: January 2022 to present)

A general preservation assessment of the library and museum collections and a workshop on preservation management and collections care for the staff of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society.

The ACHS is seeking assistance to secure a NEDCC Preservation Specialist to perform a general preservation assessment of our library and museum collections and to provide a workshop on preservation management and collection care. ACHS is based in a historic building with limited space for storage and inadequate climate control. We hold an extensive collection of artifacts of local and historical importance which have suffered from neglect due to improper storage and handling of materials, and from an extensive plumbing leak in 2020 that severely damaged manuscripts awaiting processing and necessitated the rapid relocation of materials without benefit of proper organization. Obtaining a detailed preservation assessment report and holding a preservation management and collections care workshop for staff and volunteers will enable us to increase our understanding and utilization of best practices for preservation, maintenance, and long-term protection of our collections.

Associated Products

Report of a Preservation Needs Assessment (Report)
Title: Report of a Preservation Needs Assessment
Author: Alison Fulmer
Abstract: Executive Summary On March 14, 2023, paper-based, photographic, and audiovisual materials housed at the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society were assessed for preservation planning purposes by Alison Fulmer, Preservation Specialist for the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) in Andover, MA. The assessment evaluated the buildings and environments as they relate to the preservation needs of the materials; examined current policies, storage, and handling procedures; and assessed the general condition of materials. Observations and recommendations are based on a pre-site visit questionnaire, a full-day site visit, and discussions staff members.
Date: 4/28/2023

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