Antiquarian and Landmarks Society Environmental Monitoring Program

FAIN: PG-50041-07

Connecticut Landmarks (Hartford, CT 06106-1821)
Beverly Lucas (Project Director: May 2006 to September 2008)

Environmental monitoring at eight historic house museums, which house and display nearly 10,000 historical and decorative objects and 400 linear feet of archival materials that document four centuries of domestic architecture and family life in Connecticut.

The Antiquarian and Landmarks Society's Environmental Monitoring Program entails developing an environmental profile of each of its house museums. These profiles will be used to determine the appropriate installation or upgrading of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and/or the introduction of remedial improvements such as installing portable humidifiers and/or dehumidifiers and improving insulation and building seals. The project includes purchasing data loggers for each of the house museums, which will monitor temperature and relative humidity for one year. Results will be reviewed by staff and an outside conservator. Staff will develop an implementation plan for environmental control, including a budget and timeline based on the conservator's recommendations.