Planning Two New Storage Spaces and Housing Collections

FAIN: PG-52383-15

Good Will-Hinckley (Hinckley, ME 04944-0159)
Deborah W. Staber (Project Director: May 2014 to October 2016)

Hiring a consultant to undertake an assessment of storage space, purchase of storage equipment, and training for staff to rehouse significant historical, archival, and archaeological collections related to the Good Will-Hinckley Homes orphanage. Founded in Hinckley, Maine, in 1889, the orphanage remains in operation today.  The collections were acquired by the founder, G.W. Hinckley, to enhance education for the orphans, and to document foster education. They include 10,000 archaeological artifacts, the institution’s archives, and more than 10,000 objects of fine art and historical materials.  The collections are used for research, exhibits and educational programs, and are accessed by descendants of the more than 7,000 Good Will-Hinckley orphans to research and understand their family histories and life in the orphanage.

The L.C. Bates Museum’s project preservation goal is to improve collection’s care and storage by developing two new storage spaces and storing significant historic, archival, and archaeological collections. These materials are relevant to the history and study of Good Will Homes, prehistoric cultures, designed institutional landscapes and the history of childhood. To achieve this goal, we propose to work with conservator Ron Harvey to implement the recommendations of our past conservation assessments by methods outlined in Harvey’s letter of commitment and storage treatment recommendations. This project is a priority of our 2008 RECAP, 2012 MAP and 2013-2017 long range conservation plan. The project is designed to turn two unused rooms on the museum’s second floor into appropriate storage spaces for humanities objects, purchase shelving and storage supplies, train staff in storage methods, store the project collections, and present a public workshop on Developing Storage Spaces.