Preserving Michigan History: An Assessment and Plan for the Kalamazoo College Archives

FAIN: PG-50496-09

Kalamazoo College (Kalamazoo, MI 49006-3295)
Stacy Anne Nowicki (Project Director: May 2008 to September 2010)

A general preservation assessment of the Kalamazoo College archives and manuscript collections.

The Kalamazoo College Archives will hire a consultant to assess the condition of its collections and draft a long-range plan for their care. The Archives houses materials documenting the history of Kalamazoo College (the oldest college in Michigan founded in 1833), Baptists in Michigan and the Midwest, and the settlement of Michigan pre- and post-statehood. Collection highlights include 19th century letters, sermons, and diaries describing Michigan and hardships of pioneers; and field notes and expedition memorabilia of Maynard Owen Williams, chief of the foreign staff of National Geographic 1930-1953. Eric Alstrom (Head of the Florence G. Wallace Conservation Laboratory at Michigan State University) will assess the condition of the collections as well as their housing, security, handling, and storage environment. The plan will provide a strategy for long-term access, preservation, and management of collections in preparation for digitization and a list of conservation treatments.