Opportunity: Fellowship in Book or Paper Conservation

The Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is pleased to offer a twelve-month post-graduate fellowship in our book or paper lab, beginning in September 2020. The conservation fellow will treat a wide range of materials and will work with experienced conservators and technicians in a collaborative environment. The fellow’s research interests will be supported to develop a presentation, publication, or an internally presented paper. In addition to a stipend, the fellowship provides health insurance, paid leave, two weeks of research/professional development time, and a travel and research allowance. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2020 .

Participate in the Field Services Alliance Survey
 
The Field Services Alliance (FSA) is an American Association of State and Local History (AASLH) affinity group made up of individuals, offices, and agencies that provide training, guidance, and other forms of assistance to local historical societies, archives, libraries, and museums in their respective states or regions.
 
Over the past two years, FSA has been developing an evaluation tool in order to show the impact that our work has had on history organizations around the country and as a way to compare offices to identify gaps and areas of improvement. We hope that you will help us in this effort by completing this short survey, which should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
 
 
Funding Opportunities: CLIR and NEH
Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Enabling New Scholarship through Increasing Access to Unique Materials is a national grant competition administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) for digitizing rare and unique content in collecting institutions. The program is generously supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is built upon the model of CLIR’s Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives program (2008-2014).

Initial proposals due Tuesday, March 31, 2020 .

The Humanities Collections and Reference Resources (HCRR) program supports projects that provide an essential underpinning for scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities. Funding from this program strengthens efforts to extend the life of such materials and make their intellectual content widely accessible, often through the use of digital technology. Updated guidelines will be posted in advance of the next deadline. In the meantime, use the previous guidelines to get a sense of what is involved in assembling an application.

Applications available Friday, May 15, 2020
Applications due Wednesday, July 15, 2020


Thinking about applying for a project involving CCAHA? Email  Lee Price, Director of Development , to get started.
Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) Program Updates

The New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education contracts with CCAHA to deliver statewide services supporting organizations that safeguard New York's historical documents and library research materials.  Learn more about DHPSNY.

DHPSNY is hitting the road in March for their first workshop series of 2020, Essential Policies and Procedures for Cultural Institutions , presented at five locations throughout the State. DHPSNY's workshops are free of charge for New York institutions, and space is limited. Click here to learn more and register.

The deadline for DHPSNY's first  Planning & Assessment Services  application round of the year is  Friday, March 20, 2020 .   Applications for DHPSNY's services are accepted year-round and reviewed three times a year.  Click here to learn more and apply.
Upcoming Programs
WORKSHOP
It's In Here: Preservation Box-Making
Date: Thursday, February 13
Time: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: The Drexel Collection at Drexel University, Philadelphia
Presenter: Stephenie Schwartz Bailey, Education Program Manager & Preservation Consultant, CCAHA

This session will study the options for preservation appropriate storage of flat and three-dimensional paper and historic artifacts in a drop-front, paper board box. Participants will be practice handling boxes and learn techniques for labeling. Following discussion of suitable housing supplies, participants will have opportunity to make a flat storage folder and a storage box.

This half-day workshop will be held in conjunction with Peek Under the Mat: Preservation Hinging for Paper Artifacts .

Major funding for these programs is generously provided by the William Penn Foundation , with additional support from the Independence Foundation , the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts , and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund .
WORKSHOP
Peek Under the Mat: Preservation Hinging for Paper Artifacts
Date: Thursday, February 13
Time: 1:30 - 4:00 PM
Location: The Drexel Collection at Drexel University, Philadelphia
Presenter: Stephenie Schwartz Bailey, Education Program Manager & Preservation Consultant, CCAHA

Preservation efforts over time reduce damage and deterioration to collections by improving the storage and exhibition environment, but often are not seen by the viewer. So when hinging and matting paper artifacts and documents, what materials and techniques are really necessary for creating safe and attractive housings? Should one choose archival corners, edge supports, hinges, or spacers? Tape or wheat-starch paste? This session will address what common mistakes could be hidden under the mat. In a hands-on activity, participants will learn the basic principles in assembling matting and framing.

This half-day workshop will be held in conjunction with It's In Here: Preservation Box-Making .

Major funding for these programs is generously provided by the William Penn Foundation , with additional support from the Independence Foundation , the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts , and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund .
WEBINAR
Caring For Our Historic Heritage: Developing A Housekeeping Plan For Historic Contents And Interiors
Date: Thursday, February 20
Time: 2:00 PM (ET)
Presenter: Emma Ziraldo, NEH Preventive Conservation Fellow, CCAHA

Why is cleaning collection material and storage areas a key aspect of preservation? What is the difference between housekeeping and collection maintenance? How can monitoring dust be a way to track effectiveness of a comprehensive housekeeping program? Emma Ziraldo will address the need for collections to be kept dust-free and give an overview of developing a housekeeping plan for historic interiors and their contents, as well as discuss housekeeping supplies, cleaning methods, and staff training.

Putting Best Practices Into Practice: Scalable Preservation Solutions is a two-year program generously funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities .
WEBINAR
Housekeeping Basics for Collecting Institutions
Date: Wednesday, February 26
Time: 2:00 PM (ET)
Presenter: Dyani Feige, Director of Preservation Services, CCAHA

Having a regular housekeeping program is essential to the preservation of collections. Clean conditions are important for long-term collections care and for good emergency preparedness. This webinar will address how to develop and maintain a housekeeping program for small- and medium-sized institutions, including policies, schedules, and recommended cleaning products .

Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities , the Regional Heritage Stewardship Program (RHSP) is an initiative of the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts that brings vital preservation services to regions of the country with limited access to conservators and preservation expertise. Conducted in partnership with Utah field services providers, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums’ Office of Museum Services (UA&M) and Utah Humanities (UH), the 2019-2020 RHSP Intermountain West project will bring in-person workshops, webinars, and preservation needs assessments to collecting institutions in under-served parts of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Founded in 1977, the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is a one-stop shop for every conservation and preservation need. CCAHA specializes in the treatment of works on paper, photographs, and books, as well as state-of-the-art digital imaging services. CCAHA’s preservation services staff present education programs and conduct preservation assessments nationwide. CCAHA also offers conservation fellowships, fundraising support, disaster assistance, and more.
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