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The purchase of a hanging rack system and environmental monitoring equipment to preserve 44 blankets and rugs, mostly of Navajo (Diné) origin, that date from the 1880s to the 1940s. Previous PAG awards in 2012 and 2014 supported a preservation assessment of holdings in the University Archives and Special Collections, including the Orman Native American Artifact Collection, as well as the purchase of rehousing supplies and training for staff.  The current proposal would implement recommendations from the preservation consultant to improve storage conditions for the 44 blankets and rugs in the Orman Collection, which is used by students and faculty across university departments, by outside researchers, and for exhibits and public programming.

The grant will support the purchase of equipment to install a wall hanging system for rolled textiles in the Orman Native American Artifact Collection. The textiles consist of 44 blankets and rugs of varying sizes. The textiles date from the 1880s -1940s, and are mostly of Navajo (Dine) origin, with a smattering of other tribes. Seven of the rugs are Navajo (Dine) Germantown “eyedazzler” rugs, which are highly prized. The textiles were cleaned, cataloged and rolled on acid-free tubes as part of a previous NEH Preservation grant. The textile rolls are stored on flat shelving--less than optimum storage as well as a very inefficient use of space. In addition to the wall hanging system, we are requesting a datalogger to monitor environmental conditions in the new storage area. The goal of this conservation project is derived from recommendations from a 2012 general preservation assessment funded by NEH’s Preservation Assistance for Smaller Institutions program.