Special Collections Preservation

FAIN: PG-50225-08

James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA 22807-0001)
Julia Michele Merkel (Project Director: May 2007 to June 2009)

The purchase of archival supplies to rehouse manuscript collections documenting the history and culture of Augusta, Page, Rockingham, and Shenandoah Counties in Virginia. The collections, which date from the late 18th century to the present, include correspondence, diaries, deeds, wills, indentures, and records from businesses in the Shenandoah Valley. Purchase of a media storage cabinet will help to stabilize items in at-risk formats, such as microfilm and magnetic materials.

James Madison University Libraries wishes to implement a re-housing project for its Special Collections based on the recommendations of an NEH funded consultant's preservation assessment of the library facility in 2004. A preservation plan has been instituted with particular attention being paid to the poor environmental conditions in the Special Collections' storage areas. To that end, grant funds would aid in the purchase of archival quality storage boxes and folders and furniture to replace existing acidic housing to provide for long term preservation of central Shenandoah Valley history.