Preservation of the Collection

Overview:  The Tigard Historical Association is seeking volunteers and funding to help us identify, protect and make accessible the thousands of artifacts that make up the John Tigard House Collection, which dates from the Tigard family travels on the Oregon Trail in 1852 and over 155 years of collecting that documents the development of Tigard and Washington County.  To volunteer contact, Sam Shogren, Preservation Specialist, 503-504-0770.

Brief Description of the Project:  The Tigard Historical Association is entering an exciting phase in its development, poised to help today's and future residents learn about and explore their local heritage.  With responsibility for one of the oldest historical structures in the State, this project will help THA document and provide access to the John Tigard House's significant collections.

While the John Tigard House collections number in the thousands, no one has full knowledg of items in the collection.  A full accounting of the collections has never been done--they reside in a storage area in the John Tigard House attic, unprotected from temperature changes and insects and are scattered throughout the House.  Their condition has not been examined and documented and items have not been given professional curatorial and conservation support.  A conservation plan is not in place to train and guide staff and volunteers about best practices for future donations.  A sense of urgency exists as the House is bursting at the seams with objects and artifacts and these items must be inventoried and receive professional curatorial support .   THA has recently hired its first Executive Director and a new energetic Board of Directors is assuring that the collections are preserved and accessible for educational and exhibition programs.  Without comprehensive knowledge or professional curatorial support for the collections, new educational and exhibition programs can't be fully implemented.  The Board is also beginning a strategic facilities planning process to address the needs for collection storage, improved access to the House, usage of the property for new revenue generating opportunities and restrooms.  Without knowing the scope of the Collection and its needs for space, the long-term facility plan will be incomplete and inaccurate.

In addition, the City of Tigard is among the fastest growing in Oregon.  THA believes that it must not only document and preserve objects from Tigard's earliest days, but must develop the capacity to collect objects documenting contemporary life, especially due to rapid changes in all aspects of today's economic and community life.  THA hopes to recruit and involve more young volunteers to help collect contemporary objects and develop an interest in "history in the making".

How The Project Will Preserve Or Develop Heritage Resources:  THA will preserve and conserve the John Tigard House Collections using the following steps:

  • Hire preservation/conservation consultant to carry out day-to-day project activities.
  • With Board, write Collections Management and Policy Statement.  An institutional collection policy will outline the systematic approach to the proper documention, preservation and use of Museum objects--one that allows for public and research access while at the same time providing preventive care and long term stewardship of these resources.  A statement on contemporary collecting and an acquisitions plan will be created.
  • Create an initial inventory of the artifact and archival collection.  The collection will be described by category, type of material, quantity, unit of measurement and location.  Space requirements for proper collections maintenance and preservation will be assessed.
  • Accession and Cataloging of Collection - The Revised Nomenclature of Museum Cataloging will be used to ensure appropriate identification and facilitate usage by others.
  • Collections Condition Survey.  As the Collection is being accessioned and cataloged, a list will be created of artifacts that need to be evaluated for stabilization or restoration.
  • De-accessioning.  A list will be generated of items needing evaluation for possible de-accessioning, and other museums will be contacted to see if they hold related collections.
  • Train volunteers about how to accession, catalog the collection, enter data into the computer using PastPerfect software and how to carry out the daily activities necessary to properly care for the collection and development of the collection.

Access To Heritage:  It is important for today's residents of Tigard to understand their local heritage, because local heritage tells the stories of how places and streets are named and located where they are, how people have raised their families, what tools were used to help make a household and a living, and why an area has grown and developed in the way that it has.  All of these tell us who we are and why--they also give us a sense of connection with each other.  As stewards of Tigard's collective memories and identity, it is THA's responsibility to preserve the John Tigard House collection to benefit future generations for research, exhibitions and education. 

The ultimate goal of this project is to make the THA collection available for exhibition, education and research use while simultaneously preserving them for future generations.  The project outcomes will address all three responsibilities of a Museum:  1) acquire and document the collection,  2) preserve the collection; and  3) provide collection access use and interpretation for research, exhibition and education.  Outcomes include:  A Collections Care/Management Policy Statement and Plan to guide collection activities; An inventory and catalogue of objects in the John Tigard House Collection with condition noted and needed repairs; A database listing objects in the John Tigard House Collection; A cadre of trained volunteers to accession future objects; A new awareness of and catalyst for fundamental change in collection preservation practice.

Preservation Specialist:  The 12 month project to begin January 2008, will be conducted by Sam Shogren, a professional preservation and heritage consultant in private practice in Beaverton.  In his 20 year career he has trained over 100 undergraduate and graduate students at three universities in museum studies, curatorial care, exhibitions and archaeology.  He was a Hagley Fellow and Project Archaeologist at the Hagley Museum in Wilmington, Delaware where he supervised 200 volunteers in the Blacksmiths Hill Research Project in the recovery and cataloging of over 500,000 artifacts documenting the lifeways of 19th century industrial workers of the EI DuPont Company.  He served as Curator of the Penobscot Marine Museum, held various positions with the Board of Maine Archives and Museums and on the Advisory Committee for the Northeast Documents Regional Conservation Lab, one of the nation's largest conservation facilities located in Andover, Massachusetts.  He has been a Peer Reviewer for the American Association of Museums, a preservation grant reviewer for the NEH and a reviewer for IMLS grants. 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • For more information contact:   Sam Shogren    at    503-504-0770