2014 IRQ CAP Object Preservation in a 3 story 1866 Watseka, IL Courthouse

Supported through the 2014 HP- CAP Grant

prepared by Jennifer Hein, Preservation Conservator

COLLECTIONS ASSESSMENT GUIDE

For the

Iroquois County Historical Society Collection

http://www.iroquoiscountyhistoricalsociety.com/

103 W. Cherry Street, Watseka, IL 60970

cathjwill@gmail.com Catherine Williams,

ichs2215@mchsi.com, Judy

Good sign compliment to typical small state sign

Good signage on exterior

Observations

Exterior & Public Relations Discussion

Good sign compliment to typical small state sign

Good signage on exterior

Capable Event & Handicap Services

Adequate Parking & Drainage In Place

Capable Event & Handicap Services new food prep area being constructed

Adequate Parking & Drainage In Place

Exhibition or Display Standards Discussion

• LIGHTING & HEAT • Many Window Covers In Place, the pull shades are the best. • Minimal Over lighting Issues, Refer to the Footcandle readings . Be aware that internal case lights generate heat & light which does deteriorate materials more quickly. • Sports has 3 double fixture fluorescents so 6 strips which is high. The Hat Shop floods were reduced nicely with incandescent bulbs.

Many Window Covers In Place the pull shades are the best

Minimal Over Lighting Issues Refer to the Footcandle readings

Internal case lights generate heat & light which does deteriorate materials more quickly

OBJECT CARE & PLACEMENT

• Hat Shop Went Thru Good Changes, always consider less tripping hazards, rocker & forms. The cases were pulled away from walls to increase the air flow & access to add to them. Hat Shop Before & After, the Chair was used as a stand to

remove the original 1925 Hat boxes from floor. Objects should not be hung off of edges. Hats are better off in the hat boxes which are a nice display

item. This eliminate dust long term. Mid-term can you add some type of storage boxes or

containers to the Hat & Sports room to include more of the objects from storage to design more open storage concepts.

Sports has 3 double fixture fluorescents so 6 strips which is high. The Hat Shop floods were

reduced nicely with incandescent bulbs.

Hat Shop Went Thru Good Changes, always consider less tripping hazards, rocker & forms.

The cases were pulled away from walls to increase the air flow & access to add to them.

Hat Shop Before & After Chair as a base to remove orig. Hat boxes from floor

Objects should not be hung off of edges.

Hat Shop 2014 changes by staff, cabinet moved from storage to display

Suggestions

•

1. Hall clearance – Consider grouping on one side only instead of back & forth.

2. Use more platforms to keep kick space free of protruding pieces.

3. Use same type of hangers in open storage displays to create visual organization.

4. Consider the left side of the jail for table & extra storage instead of restrooms.

5. Raise all items in lower level off concrete to reduce moisture wicking. It was good to see an air space under any items on plastic / wood risers like metal shelf units or the raised Taxidermy cases.

6. Add sheet of plexiglass under all metal that touches the concrete.

Use any historic shelves to display objects.

Hall clearance / Space Consider grouping on one side only instead of back & forth

Use more platforms to keep kick space free of protruding pieces

Use same type of hangers in open storage displays to create visual organization

Spatial Plan- Consider the left side of the jail for table & extra storage instead of restrooms.

Continue to place those small risers under all items in the lower level to raise them off the concrete to

reduce moisture wicking.

It was good to see an air space under any items on plastic / wood risers like metal shelf units or the

raised Taxidermy cases

Add sheet of plexiglass under all metal that touches the concrete

Use any historic shelves to display objects.

Mid-term

1. Mid-term move the negative case by the metal film storage downstairs. Cool, damp is better than hot & dry.

2. Mid-term consider trying to group the nature & the taxidermy collections together, but this would mean a well planned move project for room uses. These should not be in the basement level because of the decay from moisture issues.

3. Continue photo scanning project.

4. Place all large objects, tables or stools into displays instead of storage when possible to increase air flow and add to display surface off the floor.

5. Do not accept more large objects without a space chosen first.

6. Move all shelving units to a hall for display and fill with any collection objects. Try to free up the collections storage space to improve air flow. The cabinet from front vault could fit in the other kitchen for display use. They moved a nice cabinet into the kitchen and now have a more pleasing use-display kitchen storage area.

Storage has the most projects needed.

Place all large objects, tables or stools into displays instead of storage when possible to increase air flow

and add to display surface off the floor.

Continue to not accept large objects without a space chosen first.

Move all shelves to halls for display even with the contents to free up storage space & improve air flow. Paper is better stored

in boxes in the basement as it is a moisture equalizer. Leave heavy items as is unless there is a plan.

Thanks, they found a nice pie safe to fit in the use kitchen instead of the table cluttered with items.

Projects

• Consider making the natural history less wall oriented and fill the center

of the room with the flat cabinets and add any historic shelf units near

the walls to bring out more from storage. Then move the natural history-

taxidermy up from downstairs whenever possible to fill the wall areas. *

• Add any items possible to display spaces to make the space usable in the

Back wall vault storage.

• Do not disturb fur, wool until a pest treatment is planned in spring or fall

for the Vault Storage problems we discussed.

• Continue carriage blanket buffer & barrier rolling. I sent a few supply

samples with the draft.

Projects

• Move as many as possible of the uniforms & military accessories to open storage exhibit area.

• Space out frames into top shelves and add in cardboard given at visit.

• Panel paintings can be stored sideways if a cardboard is between them.

• Add towel buffers inside plastic cases similar to pillowcase around quilts.

• They completed the newsprint interleaving project I began with the composite dolls.*

Continue photo scanning project consider improving staff comfort

Continue moving items to display spaces to make the space usable in the Back wall vault storage.

They completed the newsprint interleaving between composite dolls that was begun during the visit.

Continue wool carriage blanket

buffer & barrier rolling for pest control.

Do not disturb fur, wool until a pest treatment is planned in the Vault Storage upstairs.

Move all uniforms & military to open storage exhibit area.

Space out frames into top shelves and add in cardboard given at visit. Panel paintings can be stored sideways if a cardboard is

between them.

Mid term they intend to move the negative case by the metal film storage downstairs. Cool, damp is better than hot & dry .

Add towel buffers inside plastic cases similar to pillowcase around quilts.

Projects

• Use the acid free tissue to create balls & fill the underside of the hats in the display.

• Move the empty camera cases & boxes near the cameras. The objects double in value with those.

• Preserve the blueprints and scrapbooks in upright storage.

• Mid-term , I suggest large flat files be purchased and added to the left side of the temporary exhibit room near the Genealogy entrance. A minimum of two large files with 4 smaller files stacked on them. Half the space can be divided for history & genealogy. This would add an upscale appearance to the Archives internal entrance & add much needed flat storage space for both collections.

Move the empty camera cases & boxes near the cameras. The objects double in value with boxes.

Preserve the blueprints from the vault, rolled in an upright cardboard box and the scrapbooks in leger

storage boxes so they can be on their spine.

Continue your work, at this beautiful site that has possibilities to educate many about history.

Jennifer Hein conservatour@msn.com

Vault Collections Front Storage

You should be proud to say the Courthouse Museum is a notable museum for the region.

Jennifer Hein conservatour@msn.com