Hermitage Environmental Monitoring Project

FAIN: PG-51238-11

Hermitage Association (Hermitage, TN 37076-1331)
Marsha Mullin (Project Director: May 2010 to September 2012)

The purchase of equipment to monitor environmental conditions and improve the care of collections that focus on Andrew Jackson's life and career. A consultant would also be engaged to train staff and assist with the interpretation of the monitoring data. The collections include nearly all of the original furnishings of Jackson's home, his personal possessions, and family library, as well as materials that document the work of the Ladies Hermitage Association, one of the oldest historic preservation groups in the United States.

The Hermitage: Home of Andrew Jackson requests $6000.00 for support of the purchase and installation of wireless data logger environmental monitoring equipment for two buildings where collections are exhibited and stored on site and training for two staff members. The project would support the installation of twelve data logger units in the Hermitage mansion, and five for exhibition and storage areas in the Visitor Center, as well as equipment for monitoring exterior conditions for a total of eighteen units. Two receivers would be required, one in the mansion and one in the visitor center. The project also includes the purchase of two HERO time lapse cameras and eight light loggers for monitoring light levels in the Hermitage mansion at four distinct seasons of the year. The project also includes consultation with Art Preservation Services for training in the use of the equipment and interpretation of the data. The Hermitage will provide $4898.00 as the applicant's cost share.