Special Collections and Archives Preservation Assessment

FAIN: PG-50305-08

University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire (Eau Claire, WI 54701-4811)
Colleen McFarland Rademaker (Project Director: May 2007 to June 2009)

A general preservation assessment of a collection of manuscripts, county and municipal records, and business archives documenting the history, culture, social life and industry in the Chippewa Valley region.

With support from the NEH Preservation Assistant Grant for Smaller Institutions, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's McIntyre Library will conduct a general preservation assessment of the Special Collections & Archives. The general preservation assessment will identify potential hazards to, and prioritize preservation and conservation needs of, the archival, manuscript, and rare book collections, all of which are heavily used by undergraduate students, local researchers, genealogists, and scholars. The McIntyre Library's Special Collections & Archives comprise approximately 4000 linear feet of archival materials, 2700 rare books, 1400 local history books, 1945 reels of microfilm, 450 maps, and about 5000 photographs. We also hold over 1500 audio tapes and 30 reels of film.