From a highly competitive pool of grant applicants, History Colorado was awarded $149,838. The grant will fund improvements to the stewardship of a collection of 6,187 historic objects and more than 50,000 archeological artifacts currently housed in Pueblo. The collection will be moved to an offsite climate controlled storage facility in Denver in an effort to consolidate History Colorado’s collections. The consolidation of collections storage in Denver  will allow staff to better protect and preserve the collection and to provide broad access for research and use. Stewardship, or the responsible management and protection of items entrusted to a museum, is a critical but often overlooked element of museum practice.

With the grant funding, the History Colorado collection stewardship project will prepare the Denver storage facility to receive the collection items; recruit and train project staff; and pack, palletize, track, and ultimately install the objects their new home. The grant also will  aid in updating all collection documentation and providing access to collection data online. Through improved environmental controls and greater physical accessibility, History Colorado can better manage its collection and insure the preservation of Colorado history for many years to come.

IMLS began the Museums of America Grant program to advance museum practices in the United States. The program awards grants in three key museum areas: Learning Experiences, Community Anchors, and Collections Stewardship. The Collections Stewardship Program promotes the management and welfare of museum collections.

For more information about the Museums of America Grant or the Insitute of Museum Library Services, got to: https://www.imls.gov/

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History Colorado's mission is to inspire generations to find wonder and meaning in our past and to engage in creating a better Colorado. We serve as the state's memory, preserving the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through our museums, educational programs, historic preservation grants, research library, collections, and outreach to Colorado communities. Find History Colorado on all major social media platforms. Visit HistoryColorado.org or call (303) HISTORY for more information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Shannon Haltiwanger
Public Information Officer | Preservation Communications Manager