Preserving the Papers and Manuscripts in the Ipswich Historical Society's Archives

FAIN: PG-50918-10

Ipswich Historical Society (Ipswich, MA 01938-2322)
Katherine Chaison (Project Director: May 2009 to November 2011)

A preservation assessment of the society's historical manuscripts and an in-house workshop on basic archival preservation. The collections, currently maintained at risk in three separate locations, include personal papers, business records, photographs, and poetry dating to the 17th century and documenting the rich history and culture of Ipswich.

The Ipswich Historical Society seeks a $4,800 Preservation Assistance Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to retain a preservation consultant to perform a conservation survey of the unbound papers and manuscripts in the Ipswich Historical Society's archival collection and to teach the basics of archival preservation via an on-site workshop. The survey will assess the physical collection and its current storage and evaluate the multiple and conflicting collection management practices that have been used throughout the Society's existence. The subsequent workshop will provide basic conservation and training for Society staff and volunteers that will address issues identified in the report. The conservation survey is needed to create a unified plan that joins together the different efforts and visions of past and present staff and volunteers into a single, cohesive and achievable plan of action.