Connecting to Collections
Fourth Forum held in Buffalo, NY

On June 16 and 17, the fourth forum in the National Tour series of the Connecting to Collections initiative, entitled "Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action," was held in Buffalo, New York. Two hundred and sixty-six individuals attended the forum, hailing from 46 states, the District of Columbia, and China. Travel stipends were issued to 73 people to enable them to attend the forum.

Patricia Silence, Conservator of Exhibits at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, speaks to forum participants about "Going Green, For Not A Lot of Green."

IMLS hosted this forum in cooperation with Heritage Preservation, the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, and the Art Conservation Department of Buffalo State College, State University of New York. The forum took place at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, with a reception and Connections Lab at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Participation in the forum was free of charge. Links to a webcast and photo gallery are available here.

"Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action" addressed how museum, library, and archives professionals can work together and with the conservation community to improve collections care and to inspire and inform others, both nationally and in their home towns. Speakers addressed ways to make the case for collections funding and gave insight into how to approach and work with foundations. The forum provided ample tips such as how to reduce the environmental impact of collections care activities, tackling digital preservation, attracting and keeping volunteers, and including conservation in public programs and social media. The program also reviewed the expertise the conservation graduate programs and regional conservation centers provide museums and libraries.

Keynote speaker Maxwell L. Anderson, The Melvin & Bren Simon Director and CEO of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, visits with forum attendees during a reception at the Burchfield Penny Art Center.

Several case studies were featured including the success story by the Maine Historical Society, which has completed an extensive capital campaign to expand their library and provide an improved environment of its collections. A presentation by the Rochester Museum and Science Center explained their extensive volunteer program and outreach efforts to document the Latino heritage in their town. Participants also heard about the work of an active network of African American museums in Florida led by The John G. Riley Center/Museum of African American History and Culture in Tallahassee that is preserving history across their state. The University of Buffalo, SUNY explained how they have connected with community groups and institutions to ensure local heritage is being preserved, such as through the News Film Library at the Buffalo Broadcasters Association, the Reverand J. Edward Nash House Collection of African American archival material, and the Jewish Buffalo Archives Project, which is gathering at risk archives from religious organizations and preserving them for future generations. The keynote speaker was Maxwell L. Anderson, who as The Melvin & Bren Simon Director and CEO of the Indianapolis Museum of Art has successfully made collections care central to the museum’s mission, operations, and outreach.

The forum received support from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, the John R. Oishei Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Carol A. Fatta/The Fatta Foundation, the Baird Foundation, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.