Preserving and Exhibiting Local History Collections

Local history collections offer a window to a community's past. Good exhibits open that window to the public, and sound preservation practices ensure that it can remain open for generations to come.

Proper care and preservation is the first step in managing a local history collection. The workshop addresses storage materials and environmental control of light, dirt, heat, and humidity. The instructor demonstrates safe cleaning techniques for paper, wood, metal, and fabric and discuss situations in which cleaning is not safe. Workshop sessions place special emphasis on care of paper collections and framed materials.

Good exhibits begin with good ideas. The second day of the workshop covers exhibits from idea to installation. It includes an interactive session on choosing exhibit topics and communicating concepts. The instructor also teaches label writing skills and demonstrates exhibit fabrication techniques. Planning and installing case exhibits also receive special attention.

Topics:

• Choosing proper storage materials
• Removing dirt and dust from paper
• Removing creases from paper
• Examining framed materials for damage
• Matting prints and documents
• Vacuuming fabric
• Protecting collections from light damage
• Choosing exhibit topics
• Writing label text
• Copying and mounting documents and photographs
• Making artifact mounts and supports
• Creating inexpensive graphics
• Making title signs
• Using color in exhibits

Your instructor:

Tom McKay is the former coordinator of the Office of Local History at the Wisconsin Historical Society. He has presented numerous workshops about collection care and exhibits for local historical societies. He is the author of more than two dozen articles about preservation and exhibition. He currently presents exhibit training workshops for small museums and libraries in conjunction with the Museum on Main Street program of the Smithsonian Institution.

Lodging and parking

Lodging costs are not covered in the workshop fee. Rooms are being held at the Lowell Center which is located one block from the workshop's location in the Pyle Center. For information on reserving rooms, please refer to the Lowell Center's information page. When reserving your room at the Lowell Center, please use the registration code "PRESERVE". It is important to make your reservation before Sunday, March 28, 2010. Rooms will be released after that date.

Parking permits are available through the Pyle Center for $13/day, or in the State Street Campus parking ramp for $1.25/hour. Detailed information about parking is available on the Lowell Center's parking information page. If you decide to request a parking permit, you must do so at least 10 days before the workshop begins.

To register:

• ONLINE registration - Fill out a form on the Web, pay by credit card, or have your institution billed
• Print out a registration form and return by fax or mail - instructions on form
• Call the Pyle Center Registration Office: (608) 262-2451