Preservation Assessment of Environmental Conditions

FAIN: PG-51374-11

Thomas Cole Historic House (Catskill, NY 12414-1027)
Elizabeth Bond Jacks (Project Director: May 2010 to November 2012)

An assessment of conditions in the Thomas Cole Historic House by a conservator and an engineer, who will identify risks to collections and propose improvements to environmental conditions, fire protection systems, and lighting. The house, a National Historic Landmark, was the primary residence and workplace of 19th-century artist Thomas Cole and contains such collections as Cole's art materials, sketches, paintings, decorative objects, and household furnishings.

The Thomas Cole Historic House is applying for a Preservation Assistance Grant in order to improve its ability to preserve and care for its collections, which relate to 19th-century artist Thomas Cole (1801-1848). The collection consists of decorative and fine art objects, art-making equipment, furniture, archaeological artifacts, prints, photographs and archives. These objects make it possible for the organization to create programs and exhibitions that educate and inspire the public about the founder of America's first major art movement, the Hudson River School. The goal of the proposed project is to gain an understanding of current environmental risks to the collection, to learn what practices and purchases can be implemented immediately to better care for the objects, and to obtain detailed descriptions of larger initiatives and their costs so that additional funds can be raised to accomplish them. The project dates are January 2010 through June 2012.