Environmental Monitoring and Planning to Preserve Fernbank Museum's Humanities Collections

FAIN: PG-52172-14

Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Atlanta, GA 30307-1221)
Bobbi Michelle Hohmann (Project Director: May 2013 to December 2015)

The purchase of environmental monitoring equipment and training of the staff in its use--part of an effort to preserve a collection of more than one million archaeological objects from Georgia and the Southeast focused on late prehistoric and Spanish colonial periods. The museum also houses approximately 1,000 ethnographic objects, including, textiles, jewelry, and photographs from around the world.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History's humanities collections are among the Museum's most valued assets. The majority are anthropological in nature, representing cultures from many different continents and time periods.These collections are central to Fernbank Museum's mission and play a critical role in both temporary and permanent exhibits and educational programs. Fernbank would use grant funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support two projects essential to the preservation of Fernbank's humanities collection: (1) environmental monitoring and (2) environmental planning. The purchase of new monitoring equipment will allow Fernbank to develop a thorough environmental monitoring and data collection program and consultation with Garrison/Lull, Inc. will provide guidance and expertise that will inform the planning of HVAC and lighting improvements throughout the Museum galleries.