Preservation Assessment of Collection

FAIN: PG-50024-07

Historical Society of Palm Beach County (Palm Beach, FL 33480-3977)
Loren Alexander Mintz (Project Director: May 2006 to October 2007)

A general preservation assessment of the historical society's books, photographs, maps, newspapers, journals, periodicals, architectural drawings, furniture, art objects, artifacts, and textiles. Most of the materials date from the 1870s to the late 20th century. Among the rarest objects is a pre-Columbian wooden human effigy that has been dated to between A.D. 900 to 1200.

With the proposed Preservation Assistance Grant, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County will contract with the Northeast Document Conservation Center for conservator Rebecca Hatcher to conduct a general preservation assessment of its collection of books, photographs, maps, newspapers, journals, periodicals, architectural drawings, research files, furniture, textiles, and other artifacts. Because the society will be moving in about eighteen months into a fully restored 1916 courthouse building and creating a history museum, this assessment will help us plan for both the short-term and long-term preservation of the collection. First, we need recommendations for remedial improvements to existing storage space and preventive maintenance strategies applicable to the new space. Second, we need recommendations for needed storage systems to house the collection in the 1916 courthouse, to allow easier and more efficient access for public use.