The Hendrick Hudson Chapter is pleased to announce that we were one of 79 institutions in the United States selected to participate in the Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP) program recently. CAP helps museums improve the care of their collections by providing a conservation assessment of the collections and building. On August 13th and 14th, Regent Jeane LaPorta, along with Chapter members, worked with two professionals, preservation architect Marilyn Kaplan and historic collections consultant Bruce MacLeish, to assess the Chapter’s collections management practices.
The Hendrick Hudson Chapter, organized in 1896, was assigned the stewardship of the historic Robert Jenkins House in 1900. Frances Chester White Hartley, the granddaughter of Robert Jenkins, the third and fifth mayor of Hudson, purchased her childhood home at 113 Warren Street, and renovated it to suit the needs of the new Chapter. The Robert Jenkins House, built in 1811, is one of Hudson’s finest examples of Federal style architecture. Mrs. Hartley presented it and all its contents to the members in 1900. For more than 50 years, the Chapter provided the only free public library in the City of Hudson.
The Hendrick Hudson Chapter still maintains an extensive library of genealogical works and histories of Hudson and neighboring towns, as well as a small museum exhibiting historic artifacts from the area, documents, textiles, and fine art.
Mr. MacLeish assessed our management of the collections — the books, antiquities and art. Ms. Kaplan assessed the building as the repository of the collection. Their assessment encompassed not only handling and cataloguing procedures for the collections, but also security, structural problems, climate control, lighting, best use of space, and services for the public such as lavatories, lifts and elevators. Their final assessment report will help the Chapter prioritize its building and collections care efforts in the coming years.
The Hendrick Hudson was honored to partner with the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) to assess its collections, and ensure the collections will be preserved and available to the public for years to come. Hendrick Hudson highly recommends the CAP program to other chapters with historic collections. The program is administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal grant making agency that supports museums and libraries. FAIC saves cultural heritage for future generations, protecting it from decay and destruction. Learn more about FAIC at http://www.culturalheritage.org/foundation. IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. To learn more, visit http://www.imls.gov.
Hendrick Hudson Chapter, NSDAR 