This document provides a summary of a conservation assessment conducted for the Shelby County Historic Society (SCHS) and Ross Historical Center in Sidney, Ohio. The assessment was conducted in July 2006 under a grant to identify conservation needs. The assessor found that the 10,000 square foot building houses collections, exhibits, and staff spaces. However, the majority of historic objects and archives are stored in the basement, which has high humidity issues that put the collections at risk. The report provides recommendations to improve collection storage conditions, prioritize preservation needs, and develop a long-term conservation plan to better care for the collections. It encourages the SCHS to focus on preventative conservation through proper storage, handling, and environmental controls.

1. SCHS / Ross Historical Center
Sidney, OH

2. GENERAL INFORMATION For the
SHELBY COUNTY HISTORIC SOCIETY/ ROSS HISTORICAL
CENTER
Supported through IMLS- CAP 2006 Grant funding,
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Preventive Conservator, Jennifer Hein
Preservation Architect, Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan
Director, Matilda Phlipot
201 N. Main Ave, SIDNEY, OH 45365
937-498-1653 History @mail2.wesnet.com
A conservation assessment survey was conducted for the
SCHS Ross Center in July 2006 under a Conservation
Assessment Program (CAP) grant administered by Heritage
Preservation under the Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS). Jennifer Hein, Preventive Conservator and
Collections specialist for Organic Materials, reviewed the
collections, its collection policies and procedures in
preparation to construct a Long term Preservation Plan.

3. The Ross Center has:
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footprint is said to be
10 ,000 sq. ft.
object storage & lower level exhibit prep storage
2,500 sq. ft
exhibition space
2,000
sq. ft.
staff offices, 1st & 2nd fl.
300 sq.
ft.
2 seating areas for meetings & Education
200 sq.
ft
building services in lower level & 2 restrooms
200 sq.
ft
corridors, stairs
300 sq.
ft
Food Prep upstairs kitchen (10 X 10)
100 sq. ft
5,600 sq. ft. is accounted for

4. The SCHS Entrance & Atrium

5. PURPOSE OF THE C.A.P. PROJECT
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The purpose of a collection’s Conservation Assessment Project is to
provide a museum with a unified overview of the conservation needs
of its collection’s. The C.A.P. consists of a thorough review of the
environmental and physical conditions under which it stores and
exhibits collections, and an examination of its collection’s
management policies and procedures. The CAP report lays out
guidelines the Museum can follow in improving the care and
preservation of its collections, and provides recommendations to
assist in prioritizing conservation needs.
The Museum can then use this information to develop their own
comprehensive short, mid-term and long-range Collections
Preservation Plans.
This report documents what could be planned to improve exhibit
lighting and storage humidity issues. With the report, there is
photographic documentation of the site at the time of my visit. This
photo-documentation is to refer to as a guide for any future changes
that you make after my visit.

6. SCHS First Floor Exhibits

7. Industry & History

8. This report has three sections:
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The building summary and insurance issues are
pages 1-10. This “Summary of Findings for the Ross
Historical Center Building is covered first
the detailed object care is in the second portion,
labeled the executive review for the SCHS Collection
objects, .pp.11-20.
The third section is specific museum standards with
comments that show how your group is progressing.
(pp. 21- 46) Please read the closing on the last page,
p. 47.

9. SCHS History Exhibition
Odd lighting

10. SCHS Archives

11. Preservation Survey
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The current preservation survey began by meeting with the
Director, when we discussed the Collection’s management
policies and collections care procedures which included a
review of inventory records, the storage and the exhibition of
the collection.
As the conservation assessor for the collection’s survey, I try
to summarize my observations for the collections by making
specific comments about steps to improve their preservation.
The Ross Center is both a regional history collection and a
county Arts Center. This is basically two institution types with
varying missions. I believe that is why there seems to be
such a struggle to make decisions there. This is the cause of
what I consider a major basic issue that is the object care.
The majority of the historic objects and archives seem to
relegated to storage in the lower level basement.

12. 3-D Exhibits

13. Collections Management

14. Closing for the SCHS Collection & the Ross Historical Center
Supported through IMLS- CAP Grant funding, July 2006
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The conversion of this historic building to a museum in the 1990s and the collection of
the Shelby County history archives is a notable effort, worth continuing. Any
organization has a few bumps on the road to success, so continue with your efforts. I
appreciate any group’s effort to continue to preserve our historical past.
I hope you tried to remember that this assessment is less about the education efforts
which are quite notable. Storytelling through educating the next generation is the initial
step to preserving our rich history and culture. Caring for the objects is the next step.
This CAP report was written to address the care of the historic objects within the
structure, while the building is considered the primary object to care for. I would like to
be sure that you recognize and appreciate the notable volunteer curatorial efforts in
boxing, sorting & categorizing the history objects. It was my one pleasure in viewing
your site, that is evident in the collection storage photos.
This assessment is intended to draw attention to areas where these efforts should be
concentrated, and to help the Museum to develop a staged, long-range preservation plan
that will integrate and prioritize the needs of all of the history collections. The Museum
holds large archives and many varied collections.
Ideally, care of the collections should take the form of preventive conservation rather
than treatment. If the correct conditions were available for storage, handling, and
exhibition, most of the deterioration that takes place in the history collection objects now
could be slowed down. For this reason, passive conservation through good care, good
environmental controls, and provision of good physical storage arrangements should be
implemented in the long-range plan before conservation treatment of individual objects.

15. County Computer Access

16. CAP Closing
I included a second copy of the Humidity and Mold guidelines, I had supplied
in the appendix when I visited. Your site has strong issues with this
detrimental method of decay. These follow this closing statement. They
should be reviewed and considered by anyone dealing directly with objects in
the basement storage.
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This collections report is an explanation of many recommendations that
appear in other written museum text. Some of the projects discussed are
already underway; others will require reallocation of existing resources; others
must be funded by outside grants or gifts.
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Current financial support and staff size is inadequate. The direction these
funds are dispersed and the staff assignments could be redirected to achieve
the aims outlined. The Museum should re-evaluate its own priorities and try to
draw support from corporate and community sponsors for preservation and
education programs.
“Through the study of our history, we will learn to make progress in our future. “
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It was an interesting challenge to write your report. I wish your group the best of luck in your future.
Your site is near to my birth site, Mercer County. Jennifer Hein