General Preservation Assessment for the Archives of the History of American Psychology

FAIN: PG-51141-11

University of Akron, Main Campus (Akron, OH 44325-0001)
Cathy Faye (Project Director: May 2010 to August 2013)

A general preservation assessment and the purchase of storage equipment to better preserve the University's archival, audio-visual, and artifact collections documenting the history of psychology. The collection includes home video footage of Sigmund Freud and audio recordings of Holocaust survivors.

The Archives of the History of American Psychology (AHAP) houses the only collection of materials in the country devoted specifically to the history of psychology and related human sciences. The holdings include manuscript collections, psychological tests, instruments and apparatus, rare books, and audiovisual materials. These unique materials document the development of various aspects of psychological science and practice and their intersections with twentieth-century American life. Grant funding will support a general preservation assessment of the AHAP. A conservator will conduct a two-day visit to the facility to examine environmental conditions, light levels, storage practices, and other factors that affect the longevity of the collections. Funding would also support the purchase of a flat filing system for the Archives' valuable collection of oversized items, including galley proofs, diplomas, posters, and teaching materials.