We learned in March that The Hegeler Carus Mansion was approved for the Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP) program on behalf of the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC). The program is in cooperation with the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington, DC.
The 9-Step process included various questionnaires, phone calls and gathering of information preparing for the assessment. In late August, our assessors came on site for two days to review all our collections, artifacts and how items are stored and preserved.
The CAP assessment is a broad study of our collections, policies, practices, building/s conditions that affect the care and preservation of our museum’s collection. The program provides a set of priorities and or goals to enable our historical house museum to develop overall collections and building care short and long – term planning goals. Our Board of Directors can then use these goals to help them prioritize on conservation and preservation projects and funding goals.
The assessment is comprised in two parts: first of the collection, and second of the building housing the collection. The assessment of the collection was completed by Mr. Barry Bauman, while the building assessment was completed by Ms. Danielle Euer.
Being accepted into the CAP program is a critical part of the process. It opens up conduits to other types of assessments and possible grant funding that we would not be able to access without it.
One of the amazing realizations that came about as we filled out the preliminary questionnaires was the number of items we have to safeguard. By the time we looked at documents, family correspondence, books, artwork, furnishings, etc.… we tallied up over 100,000 items. Truly, it is a “Treasure Trove”.