CPA_Small_Grant_Parsons 202 Final Report.pdfTo:Northampton Community Preservation Committee
From:Kelsy Sinelnikov,Collections Manager,Historic Northampton
Date:September 6,2023
Re:Parsons House Second Floor Collections Storage and Inventory Project
In the fall of 2022,Historic Northampton received a Community Preservation Act (CPA)Small Grant
to rehouse historic objects stored on the second floor of Parsons House.The grant enabled Historic
Northampton to purchase and install new sturdy metal shelving,a critical part of the preservation of
the Historic Northampton collection.The project resulted in over 550 objects being rehoused,
photographed,and inventoried.This will increase their long term preservation through proper
protective housing and improve their accessibility through the creation of digital records from the
information recorded in the inventory.
Before After
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Before rehousing
Before the new shelving was installed,collections objects were either on the floor or on poor-quality
plastic shelving.This storage was causing damage to the materials,and made access to parts of the
collections difficult.
Smith Student,Amy Kitmacher,places New shelving units
collections objects on the new shelves
The grant was used to purchase and install new metal shelving units.The shelves allowed for more
efficient use of the space,reducing overcrowding.The new shelving has the strength and depth to
properly support the collections.In addition,archival housing materials such as acid free boxes,
tissue,and foam were also purchased and used to better support and organize individual objects.
Objects were organized on the shelves by type or collection allowing them to be safely retrieved
when they are needed.
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Volunteers Schuyler Fohrhaltz-Burbank and Barbara Wright photograph and inventory objects
As objects were placed back on the shelves they were cleaned,photographed,and their information
was recorded into spreadsheets by staff,interns,and volunteers.The information recorded and the
photographs will be uploaded to Historic Northampton’s digital online catalog,which the public can
access through our website.Some of the objects that were rehoused and had their records updated
included a sign from the Nonotuck Silk Company that will be in the new Shepherd Barn Exhibit,items
from the Northampton Cutlery Company,Daniel’s,McCallum’s,and many other businesses
connected to Northampton.
Historic Northampton is grateful to be able to better preserve Northampton history through this grant
from the Community Preservation Committee.The new shelving provides safer,more efficient,and
accessible housing for over 550 objects in the collections.These improvements were crucial for the
long term preservation of these historic objects.It will allow Historic Northampton to better serve the
community by properly preserving and providing access to objects documenting the history of
Northampton.
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