Preservation of the Stafford Archives
FAIN: PG-287847-22
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford, OK 73096-3001)
Jason Dupree (Project Director: January 2022 to April 2025)
An assessment to review the collection and recommend preservation actions and to enable the creation of policies and procedures to inform organization, processing, storage, handling, and exhibition. The assessment would also generate a list of supplies and resources to support the preservation of the collection.
In 2017, the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Libraries received a sizable donation of materials from retired astronaut, General Thomas P. Stafford and the Stafford Air and Space Museum. To house this collection, the university renovated the second floor of the library to build a new archive facility (May 2019-September 2021). The next stage of the process is the preservation and maintenance of the Stafford Collection. This grant will allow us to hire a consultant to evaluate the Stafford Collection, create a preservation plan, identify a list of needed supplies and resources to protect the collection, and offer guidance to library staff on the use, handling, and display of the collection for public use. Upon the completion of the consultant’s assessment, library staff will implement the preservation plan, develop policies and procedures for preservation of the Stafford Collection and organize and store the collection with the proper preservation containers and supplies.
Media Coverage
NEH Grant Funds Preservation Assessment of the Thomas P. Stafford Collection (Review)
Author(s): Jason Dupree
Publication: SWOSU News & Blog
Date: 1/26/2024
Abstract: Announcing of receiving NEH grant to conduct preservation assessment of the Thomas P. Stafford Collection, describing the project, and sharing the final report which is housed on the university's institutional repository.
URL: https://www.swosu.edu/news/?p=neh-grant-funds-preservation-assessment-of-the-thomas-p-stafford-collection
NEH Grant Funds Preservation Assessment of the Thomas P. Stafford Collection (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Jason Dupree
Publication: Al Harris Library Facebook Page
Date: 1/31/2024
Abstract: Facebook post sharing the press release from the SWOSU News & Blog site.
URL: https://www.facebook.com/swosulibrary
Associated Products
Collection Review No. 35322 (Report)Title: Collection Review No. 35322
Author: The Conservation Center
Abstract: A preservation assessment conducted by The Conservation Center in Chicago, IL., for the Thomas P. Stafford Collection housed in the archive of the Al Harris Library, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford, OK).
Date: 09/20/23
Primary URL Description: n/a
Secondary URL Description: n/a
Access Model: Not available yet
ISBN: n/a
Stafford Collection Review (Web Resource)Title: Stafford Collection Review
Author: The Conservation Center
Abstract: Preservation assessment of the Thomas P. Stafford Collection.
Year: 2023
Primary URL:
https://dc.swosu.edu/lgrants/1/Primary URL Description: Landing page within our institutional repository for the preservation assessment report which is downloadable and available for public viewing. The appropriate attribution to NEH is visible in the item's abstract.
Preservation Plan for Stafford Collection (Report)Title: Preservation Plan for Stafford Collection
Author: Phillip Fitzsimmons
Abstract: Cost projections of preservation work found in the preservation assessment. This document articulates a more accurate accounting of the costs involved to reach our preservation goals.
Date: 1/31/2024
Access Model: Internal document
ISBN: n/a
Preservation Policy for the Stafford Collection (Report)Title: Preservation Policy for the Stafford Collection
Author: Phillip Fitzsimmons
Abstract: This preservation policy will provide overall guidance with managing and preserving the materials of the Thomas P. Stafford Collection.
Date: 1/31/2024
Access Model: Internal Document
ISBN: n/a