SCHS / Ross Historical CenterSidney, OH

GENERAL INFORMATION For theSHELBY COUNTY HISTORIC SOCIETY/ ROSS HISTORICAL CENTERSupported through IMLS- CAP 2006 Grant funding,

Preventive Conservator, Jennifer Hein Preservation Architect, Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan Director, Matilda Phlipot 201 N. Main Ave, SIDNEY, OH 45365 937-498-1653 History @mail2.wesnet.com

A conservation assessment survey was conducted for the SCHS Ross Center in July 2006 under a Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) grant administered by Heritage Preservation under the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Jennifer Hein, Preventive Conservator and Collections specialist for Organic Materials, reviewed the collections, its collection policies and procedures in preparation to construct a Long term Preservation Plan.

The Ross Center has:

footprint is said to be 10 ,000 sq. ft. object storage & lower level exhibit prep storage 2,500 sq. ft exhibition space 2,000 sq. ft. staff offices, 1st & 2nd fl.

300 sq. ft. 2 seating areas for meetings & Education

200 sq. ft building services in lower level & 2 restrooms 200 sq. ft corridors, stairs 300 sq. ft Food Prep upstairs kitchen (10 X 10) 100 sq. ft

5,600 sq. ft. is accounted for

The SCHS Entrance & Atrium

PURPOSE OF THE C.A.P. PROJECT

The purpose of a collection’s Conservation Assessment Project is to provide a museum with a unified overview of the conservation needs of its collection’s. The C.A.P. consists of a thorough review of the environmental and physical conditions under which it stores and exhibits collections, and an examination of its collection’s management policies and procedures. The CAP report lays out guidelines the Museum can follow in improving the care and preservation of its collections, and provides recommendations to assist in prioritizing conservation needs.

The Museum can then use this information to develop their own comprehensive short, mid-term and long-range Collections Preservation Plans.

This report documents what could be planned to improve exhibit lighting and storage humidity issues. With the report, there is photographic documentation of the site at the time of my visit. This photo-documentation is to refer to as a guide for any future changes that you make after my visit.

SCHS First Floor Exhibits

Industry & History

This report has three sections:

The building summary and insurance issues are pages 1-10. This “Summary of Findings for the Ross Historical Center Building is covered first

the detailed object care is in the second portion, labeled the executive review for the SCHS Collection objects, .pp.11-20.

The third section is specific museum standards with comments that show how your group is progressing. (pp. 21- 46) Please read the closing on the last page, p. 47.

SCHS History Exhibition

Odd lighting

SCHS Archives

Preservation Survey

The current preservation survey began by meeting with the Director, when we discussed the Collection’s management policies and collections care procedures which included a review of inventory records, the storage and the exhibition of the collection.

As the conservation assessor for the collection’s survey, I try to summarize my observations for the collections by making specific comments about steps to improve their preservation.

The Ross Center is both a regional history collection and a county Arts Center. This is basically two institution types with varying missions. I believe that is why there seems to be such a struggle to make decisions there. This is the cause of what I consider a major basic issue that is the object care. The majority of the historic objects and archives seem to relegated to storage in the lower level basement.

3-D Exhibits

Collections Management

Closing for the SCHS Collection & the Ross Historical CenterSupported through IMLS- CAP Grant funding, July 2006

The conversion of this historic building to a museum in the 1990s and the collection of the Shelby County history archives is a notable effort, worth continuing. Any organization has a few bumps on the road to success, so continue with your efforts. I appreciate any group’s effort to continue to preserve our historical past.

I hope you tried to remember that this assessment is less about the education efforts which are quite notable. Storytelling through educating the next generation is the initial step to preserving our rich history and culture. Caring for the objects is the next step. This CAP report was written to address the care of the historic objects within the structure, while the building is considered the primary object to care for. I would like to be sure that you recognize and appreciate the notable volunteer curatorial efforts in boxing, sorting & categorizing the history objects. It was my one pleasure in viewing your site, that is evident in the collection storage photos.

This assessment is intended to draw attention to areas where these efforts should be concentrated, and to help the Museum to develop a staged, long-range preservation plan that will integrate and prioritize the needs of all of the history collections. The Museum holds large archives and many varied collections.

Ideally, care of the collections should take the form of preventive conservation rather than treatment. If the correct conditions were available for storage, handling, and exhibition, most of the deterioration that takes place in the history collection objects now could be slowed down. For this reason, passive conservation through good care, good environmental controls, and provision of good physical storage arrangements should be implemented in the long-range plan before conservation treatment of individual objects.

County Computer Access

CAP Closing

I included a second copy of the Humidity and Mold guidelines, I had supplied in the appendix when I visited. Your site has strong issues with this detrimental method of decay. These follow this closing statement. They should be reviewed and considered by anyone dealing directly with objects in the basement storage.

This collections report is an explanation of many recommendations that appear in other written museum text. Some of the projects discussed are already underway; others will require reallocation of existing resources; others must be funded by outside grants or gifts.

Current financial support and staff size is inadequate. The direction these funds are dispersed and the staff assignments could be redirected to achieve the aims outlined. The Museum should re-evaluate its own priorities and try to draw support from corporate and community sponsors for preservation and education programs.

“Through the study of our history, we will learn to make progress in our future. “

It was an interesting challenge to write your report. I wish your group the best of luck in your future.

Your site is near to my birth site, Mercer County. Jennifer Hein