GWBHS Pamphlets

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Preservation Assessment Survey:
The Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society
by Sara Sterkenburg, Jeff Nash, Paul Wentzell

 

Executive Summary

The Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society operates a small, all-volunteer museum that holds several priceless artifacts for the region. The museum building is very old, and is not conducive to long-term storage for these artifacts due to major lack of climate control mechanisms. While the general consensus among museum staff indicates a need to better organize and preserve the collections, the museum does not currently have the resources to train and compensate staff to do so. Additionally, the board that oversees financial direction for the museum may not always agree with a clear direction for the collections. Our findings indicate that due to these limitations, major preservation projects to protect these historical assets are stalled or completely nonexistent. With the help of a recent bequest - and by establishing a clear direction for the collections into the future - the society can invest in better storage and exhibition environments to preserve its history for the long term.

Major recommendations will include: finding an adequate off-site storage facility for all non-exhibiting collections, implementing policies and procedures to standardize the services and responsibilities of the historical society, hiring graduate student interns to catalog and digitize the collections, and introducing danger preparedness as a museum priority.

Gift agreement 11 2010

Project Plan for Digitization A Structural Manual for Policy Development at the Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society Jeff Nash, Sara Sterkenburg, Paul Wentzell December 13, 2011 Written as a partial requirement of SI 644: Advanced Preservation University of Michigan, School of Information

Civil War era history will be highlighted with a guided stroll around the former 1878-1908 Michigan Military Academy (MMA) on the grounds of the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s campus. During the brief 30-year life of the school it was deemed the “West Point of the West.”

Dave Finney, nationally recognized Civil War authority, will give a presentation on Union General Copeland whose home, known as “the castle”, later was part of the MMA.

The historical society is offering private tours in which you select not only the historical landmark but also the day and time – and pace – for your group to explore Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake, Sylvan Lake and West Bloomfield, all led by trained docents.

WHY STUDY LOCAL HISTORY?, UTILIZING LOCAL RESOURCES, SAMPLE EXERCISES