Preservation and Rehousing Storage Materials for the University Archives

FAIN: PG-51571-12

Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, NC 27909-9913)
Jean B. Bischoff (Project Director: May 2011 to September 2013)

The purchase of preservation-quality shelving and supplies to rehouse 5,000 photographic images that include glass-plate negatives, film negatives, and positive prints documenting the history of the university, founded in 1891 as the Elizabeth City Colored Normal School. The archives and image collections of this Historic Black College and University were surveyed by preservation specialists as part of an earlier NEH Preservation Assistance Grant which determined that the rehousing of the photographic collection was a priority.

Preservation Assistance Grant funding of $6,000 would support the purchase and installation of powder-coated steel shelving for a principal archival storage area which houses the photograph collection in ECSU’s G.R. Little Library, as well as the purchase of preservation enclosures and supplies. In the 2009 NEH-funded preservation survey, Lyrasis consultants stated “It is essential that proper and adequate shelving and housing be acquired for the materials in ECSU’s Special Collections and Archives.” ECSU has taken the first step to enhance preservation and access to collections by replacing 393 linear feet of inadequate shelving with archival steel shelving, and seeks to continue acquiring additional repositionable storage units and needed preservation supplies.