Chesterwood

Purpose: Supporting Lifelong Learning The Chesterwood museum's Collections Information Access Project will improve intellectual access of staff, students, and the general public to the museum's rich collections of archives, photographs, and fine arts-especially the sculpture of Daniel Chester French (1850 to 1931), sculptor of the colossal marble statue in the Lincoln Memorial, who built Chesterwood as his country home and studio. Building on new computer hardware and software installed in 2002, the project will support the next steps in maintaining excellence in education and historic preservation, two of three primary goals identified in Chesterwood's long-range plan. The project will use state-of-the-art computer technology; 1,000 professional digital images of the sculpture collection funded through a Getty sculpture conservation assessment grant; and best practices in collections information management to make the collections currently housed in less than ideal physical conditions more accessible through the Internet. The project will provide for use of a collections information and Web site consultant; training for the museum's archivist, curator, educator, and director; the addition of new staff with strong computer skills; and the creative involvement and oversight of senior headquarters staff.