Daguerreotype Lecture Online 

Last September, CCAHA Photograph Conservator Rachel Wetzel gave a lecture at the Library of Congress on the history of the daguerreotype and its conservation. The presentation was recently posted online.  View the lecture here.
Community Briefing on Federal Arts Funding Cuts

What are you doing tomorrow morning? We'll be attending the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (GPCA)'s C ommunity Briefing on Federal Arts Funding Cuts at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) at 8:30 AM. J oin us! RSVP here.
CCAHA in the News

CCAHA Executive Director Laura Hortz Stanton was recently interviewed about the effects of the proposed federal budget's elimination of the NEH, NEA, and IMLS on institutions like CCAHA. "The cost-saving for the federal budget is slim," she says, "But the impact with the arts and culture community is huge." Click here to read the article.

Our friends at Arcadia University wrote this week about their receipt of a matching grant from the CCAHA Philadelphia Stewardship Program to improve storage of their permanent art collection. CCAHA Preservation Services staff visited the University last year and assessed its collections after it was accepted into the Program. Based on the report's recommendations, the University applied for and received the grant from the Program (funded by the William Penn Foundation).  Click here to read the article.
Updates from the Performing Arts Emergency Preparedness Initiative

Specifics have been released for the Mellon-funded, LYRASIS-led collaboration between nine partner organizations, including CCAHA, to increase emergency planning and preparedness among performing arts organizations. The implementation will include outreach, resource development, online tools, grants, and a "circuit rider" mentoring program which will provide local community-based training, consulting, and expertise. 

CCAHA Presentations

CCAHA Preservation Specialist Samantha Forsko recently spoke at the Pennsylvania Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials conference. Her session, "Emergency Training and Exercise of Cultural/Historical Sites in Pennsylvania," discussed methods for collaboration between emergency management personnel and cultural institution staff. 

On April 20, CCAHA Executive Director Laura Hortz Stanton will address the ARMA Liberty Bell Chapter, introducing the fundamentals of emergency planning and developing an emergency response plan for collections. The event is open to the public. Click here to learn more and register. 
CCAHA's Regional Heritage Stewardship Program

Building upon past success in education and network-building, CCAHA is leading a set of ambitious new strategies to aid underserved regions of the country, adapting successful service models to assist collecting institutions along the Eastern Gulf Coast and in Appalachia.

This month, we opened registration for two introductory webinars: May 17 for Appalachian KY, OH, and WV and May 18 for AL, MS, and the FL Panhandle. We're also scheduling the first round of in-person workshops to be held in Athens, OH; Hazard, KY; Natchez, MS; and Dothan, AL.

CCAHA's 40th 

2017 is CCAHA's 40th anniversary. We are commemorating this anniversary by sharing the articles, photos, and reminiscences that tell the story of CCAHA. In this space, we'll share recent posts from our ongoing coverage.

In 1983, CCAHA was contracted to treat the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War as part of a celebration of its bicentennial. 

In the mid-80s, CCAHA was involved in a high-profile triage project: the treatment of the paper currency from the sunken ocean liner Andrea Doria.

This article details CCAHA’s work on Villanova University’s McGarrity Collection, a large collection of objects related to Irish culture. 

This 1982 article features CCAHA’s work on the InterNorth Art Foundation’s collections, which were on permanent loan to the Joslyn Museum of Art in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia’s Fall 1984 newsletter was a special conservation issue, highlighting the treatment of a recently-acquired collection of paintings and drawings of Thomas Ustick Walter, one of the foremost American architects of the 19th century.

Upcoming Programs
WORKSHOP
May 18
Bryn Mawr, PA

Topics covered include handling and storage of a variety of materials including metals, glass, ceramics, and wood using the collection at Bryn Mawr College. Participants discuss the historical "ideal" environmental conditions for these objects as well as the current changes to those standards. Examples of appropriate collections storage materials are given along with information about their suppliers.
WEBINAR
Introduction to the Regional Heritage Stewardship Program 

May 17: 2PM - 3PM

May 18: 2PM - 3PM

Presenters will provide an overview of the two-year program including topics that will be covered in workshops and webinars, opportunities for cultural institutions in the regions to participate, and overall goals for the program. Questions about the initiative will be welcomed in an open, interactive Q&A session, and participants will have the opportunity to suggest ideas for future workshops and webinars.
Upcoming LYRASIS Programs 
In 2016, CCAHA and LYRASIS partnered to increase their constituents’ access to vital services. CCAHA members receive a discount on LYRASIS programming. In addition, the organizations offer combined consulting for cultural heritage organizations. 
The Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is a nonprofit conservation facility specializing in the treatment of works on paper, photographs, and books through conservation and state-of-the-art digital imaging services. Founded in 1977, CCAHA serves both nonprofit cultural institutions and private individuals and organizations. CCAHA’s preservation services staff present educational programs, conduct preservation assessments, and develop emergency preparedness plans. CCAHA also offers fellowships, fundraising support, and disaster assistance.