Conservation Assessment and Planning Project

FAIN: PG-50197-07

Smoki Museum (Prescott, AZ 86301-3184)
Adam Edward Mikos (Project Director: May 2006 to June 2007)

A preservation assessment of the museum's collection of American Indian holdings, which include prehistoric materials from the Hohokam, Sinagua, and Prescott cultures and historical collections of basketry, katsina dolls, beadwork, and clothing from Southwestern Indian tribes.

With the assistance of the NEH Preservation Assistance Grant, the Smoki Museum intends to contract with conservation professional Ms. Bettina Raphael to conduct a specific preservation needs assessment of the exhibition and storage conditions under which our 2,000-object collection is housed. Ms. Raphael's focus will be to recommend short- and long-term improvements for the care of our collections, including exhibition lighting and climate control; exhibit mounting methods and storage containers; archival environment improvements; solutions to collections storage space needs; and establishment of a long-range plan for the continuing care of the collections.