Architect of the Capitol and The Friends of Iolani Palace Receive National Collections Award
Both organizations are exemplary in caring for diverse artifacts entrusted to their care
Historic seats of government on opposite sides of the country are receiving the Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections, presented annually by Heritage Preservation and the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Although there are vast differences in the size and scope of their collections, the Architect of the Capitol, in Washington, DC, and The Friends of Iolani Palace, in Honolulu, Hawaii, are models of exemplary stewardship of the historic collections in their care.
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Thomas Crawford’s Statue of |
The Architect of the Capitol
The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the construction, maintenance, operation, enhancement, and preservation of the United States Capitol campus, which includes 16.5 million square feet of buildings and more than 450 acres of land. Caring for fragile national heritage collections within a large organization more commonly associated with legislation and politics presents special challenges. Tour groups assemble in proximity to precious murals and sculpture, conservation treatment projects are scheduled during Congressional recesses, and scaffolding often has to be disassembled for ceremonies and events. With such a complicated situation, the selections committee was extremely impressed by the way in which the Architect of the Capitol has made stewardship one of its core values.
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Conservators on the scaffold working on Constantino Brumidi’s Apotheosis of Washington |
The conservation of the murals painted by Constantino Brumidi throughout the Capitol is one of the most impressive accomplishments of the Architect of the Capitol. The fresco, "The Apotheosis of Washington," in the dome of the Capitol is the best-known. Other murals in the Capitol’s corridors and in the Library of Congress’s Thomas Jefferson also had suffered damage and have now been conserved. The selection committee also cited the care of outdoor sculpture throughout the Capitol Grounds, and the care and preservation of heritage assets such as historic photographs and architectural drawings as further examples of the exemplary effort that has gone into conserving the extensive U.S. Capitol collections.
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Iolani Palace Exterior |
The Iolani Palace
The Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii, was the official residence of the sovereign of the Hawaiian kingdom from 1882 – 1893, when the monarchy was overthrown. It served as a government capitol building until 1969 and opened as a historic house museum in 1978.
The Friends of Iolani Palace operate the structure as a museum. A collections staff of three cares for the 4,600 objects in the collection, which includes furniture and objects from the Hawaiian royal family. The committee was impressed that even with limited staff The Friends of Iolani Palace have planned thoroughly, reached out to professionals, systematically sought grants, and implemented the recommendations of conservators.
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Throne Chair Examination |
The Friends of Iolani Palace sponsor two programs to involve the public in collections care that the committee found especially impressive. "Experts at the Palace" is a series of lectures, co-sponsored with the University of Hawaii’s Historic Preservation Program, that bring in preservation professionals to engage the public. The Pulama Ia (Cherished Objects) program has in seven years raised $199,000 for conservation treatment of 46 artifacts. A brochure created to promote this program shows textiles and furniture in poor condition and in gleaming splendor after treatment.
In spite of the substantial differences between the two award recipients, the committee noted some significant similarities. Both have extremely dedicated staff members who are advocates for the collections within their organizations and to the public. These staff members work extensively with outside professional conservators, and use these conservators not just to treat objects, but for assistance in planning and surveys of collections needs. At both institutions, the collections care program is guided by the use of historical archives and documentation.
The AIC/Heritage Preservation Ross Merrill Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections is presented annually to recognize an organization that has been exemplary in the importance and priority it has given to conservation concerns and in the sustained commitment it has shown to the preservation and care of cultural property. Recent recipients have included Shelburne Museum, Historic Cherry Hill, the Arizona State Museum, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and the Cleveland Public Library.
The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works is the national membership organization of professional conservators dedicated to preserving the art and historic artifacts of our cultural heritage for future generations.
Heritage Preservation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the United States. By identifying risks, developing innovative programs, and providing broad public access to expert advice, Heritage Preservation assists museums, libraries, archives, historic preservation and other organizations, as well as individuals, in caring for our endangered heritage.
Nominations are invited for the 2012 AIC/Heritage Preservation Ross Merrill Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections . Self-nominations are welcome. The deadline is December 15, 2011. For additional information, see http://www.heritagepreservation.org/awards/aic.htm.