Preservation Assessment of City of Fall River Records

FAIN: PG-50557-09

City of Fall River (Fall River, MA 02722-7700)
Pamela Davis (Project Director: May 2008 to October 2010)
Richard Gonsalves (Project Director: October 2010 to September 2011)

A preservation assessment of the city's historical records, focusing on its extensive collection of tax record books from 1840 to 1960. These materials, which provide valuable information for economic and community history, demographic study, and genealogy, are potentially at high risk of deterioration due to poor storage conditions and past water damage.

The City of Fall River proposes to hire a consultant to conduct a general preservation survey of paper-based historical materials in the City Hall. The scope of work will include an on-site survey at City Hall and preparation of a detailed report that describes current conditions and outlines recommendations for improvement in the areas of collection management; the building and storage environment; security and emergency preparedness; storage and handling; exhibition; reformatting; and conservation treatment of materials. The survey will identify short-, medium-, and long-term preservation priorities, and the written report of observations and recommendations may be used as a planning document to implement preservation activities. The proposed project will enable the City of Fall River to evaluate the current condition of the records described, determine a plan of action to preserve the books, and employ the proper methods of future storage to prevent further deterioration.