Robert R. McCormick Museum Receives Conservation Resources
WHEATON, IL, June 24, 2009
The Robert R. McCormick Museum at Cantigny Park, part of the McCormick Foundation, has been awarded the
Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The materials will be used by the McCormick Museum in its efforts to preserve treasured objects and artifacts.
“These resources will help us tackle issues like long-term collections care, disaster planning and pest management,” said Will Buhlig, McCormick Museum assistant director. “The Bookshelf also offers advice about caring for our museum’s 3,000 books. Robert R. McCormick treasured his Cantigny Farm book collection and the remaining volumes have direct provenance to the Colonel. Their preservation is a vital part of our mission.”
“When IMLS launched this initiative to improve the dire state of our nation’s collections, we understood that the materials gathered for the Bookshelf would serve as important tools for museums, libraries and archives nationwide,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, IMLS director. “We were both pleased and encouraged by the overwhelming interest of institutions prepared to answer the call to action, and we know that with their dedication, artifacts from our shared history will be preserved for future generations.”
IMLS has now awarded nearly 3,000 sets of the Bookshelf, in cooperation with the American Association for State and Local History. The reference materials focus on collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries' special collections. They address such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness and culturally specific conservation issues.
The McCormick Museum is a historic house museum interpreting the life and legacy of Robert R. McCormick, former editor and publisher of the
Chicago Tribune. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, with visits by free guided tour. Visit
Cantigny.org for more information and a complete schedule of Cantigny Park events.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit
imls.gov.