Chester County History Center

Based on the findings of a previous IMLS award, the Chester County History Center will improve the care and preservation of its collections by conducting a conservation survey of 360 framed works on paper. Museum staff and trained volunteers will edit digital records and create a final inventory of the artworks, the majority of which are portraits of local people and landscapes by local artists in a wide variety of media. The museum will purchase archival supplies and engage conservation consultants, who will conduct the survey onsite with the assistance of museum staff. The conservators will create detailed preservation notes about each object, unframe, and then reframe or rehouse the artworks. The project will result in improved storage conditions, and a final report will provide detailed conservation recommendations that will prioritize future conservation treatment.