Greenwich Historical Society Inc

"THE GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL IMPROVE PRESERVATION OF ITS COLLECTIONS BY CONSOLIDATING OBJECTS CURRENTLY IN STORAGE BOTH ON AND OFF SITE TO ITS NEW HVAC-CONTROLLED FACILITY DESIGNED FOR LIBRARY, ARCHIVES, AND MUSEUM OBJECT STORAGE. THE MUSEUM WILL PURCHASE AND INSTALL SPECIALIZED STATIONARY AND MOBILE STORAGE EQUIPMENT IN THE NEW FACILITY; HIRE A PROFESSIONAL COLLECTIONS MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE MUSEUM'S CURATOR AND ARCHIVIST TO UPDATE SHELF LISTS, REHOUSE COLLECTIONS AND MOVE, TRACK, AND INSTALL COLLECTIONS INTO THE NEW FACILITY; PURCHASE ARCHIVAL ENCLOSURES; AND HIRE A FINE ARTS MOVER TO SAFELY PACK AND MOVE COLLECTIONS TO THEIR NEW LOCATIONS. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FOR THE EXPANDED USE AND GROWTH OF THE COLLECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BUSH-HOLLEY HOUSE, THE COS COB ART COLONY, AND THE GREENWICH COMMUNITY. THE PROJECT DIRECTOR WILL CONSOLIDATE AND SUMMARIZE FINDINGS, WRITE A WHITE PAPER, AND ORGANIZE A WORKSHOP FOR THE NEW ENGLAND MUSEUM ASSOCIATION ON PROJECT DESIGN, CHALLENGES, SUCCESSES, AND LEARNINGS."

GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY (GHS) WILL INCREASE PUBLIC ACCESS TO AND KNOWLEDGE OF GREENWICH HISTORY THROUGH ONGOING STEWARDSHIP OF ITS ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS. THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT A NEW PROJECT ARCHIVIST TO PROCESS AND CREATE DETAILED ONLINE FINDING AIDS FOR 49 ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS AND A DIGITIZATION SPECIALIST TO DIGITIZE AND DESCRIBE 22,200 IMAGES AND PUBLISH THEM ONLINE IN THE CONNECTICUT DIGITAL ARCHIVES (CTDA). RECENTLY PROCESSED COLLECTIONS WILL BE REHOUSED IN NEW ARCHIVAL ENCLOSURES, IMPROVING THE LONG-TERM PRESERVATION AND STABILITY OF THE COLLECTION. THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT WILL MAKE THE COLLECTIONS WIDELY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE WEB SITES OF GHS AND CTDA. EXHIBITION PLANNING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION OF COLLECTIONS LONG OBSCURED BY A LACK OF FINDING AIDS.