The Monica Haley Collection of children’s art was donated to the Richmond Museum of History in 1997 and has been the focus of considerable attention including loans, exhibitions, and a descriptive book published in 2011. However, basic tasks associated with collection management, such as compiling an electronic inventory, labeling, and appropriate housing were never completed. Monica Haley was an art teacher in the Maritime Childcare Centers (1943-1966) in Richmond, a short lived childcare program funded by the government and established for the families working in the Kaiser Shipyards during World War II. Monica saved art made in her classes, including paintings, cut and paste, line drawings, wood block prints, going so far as to name and date most of the pieces. This poster explores the methods, failures, and successes employed a by museum with an annual budget of less than $100,000, one graduate student, and two part-time staff (one is a 2013 graduate with an M.A. in Museum Studies). The ultimate goals of the project include a complete inventory, conserve/stabilize the collection, and develop a traveling exhibit to educate the public and garner much needed revenue. Presenters: Melinda McCrary, Executive Director at Richmond Museum of History Patricia McCloy, Graduate Student in Museum Studies at John F. Kennedy University

1. Monica Haley
 Visited Nazi Germany in 1938 with husband John Haley, prominent artist & art professor
 Lived in Point Richmond
 Taught within the MCC from 1944 to 1966
 Appointed art director for the MCC & Richmond Unified School District in 1946
 Wrote names of artist and date on most artworks
 Developed basic interpretive exhibit of collection
 Estate donated children’s art to RMH in 1997
Maritime Childcare Centers
 Maritime Childcare Centers (MCC) for kids of “Rosie the Riveter”
 Served an estimated 45,000 Richmond kids
 $3.50 per week for one child; $2.75 additional
 Provided basic care as well as nutritionists, psychologists, trained educators, immuniza- tions’ clothing alterations and hair cuts
 Art classes taught by Monica Haley
 Exhibit in the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historic Park
Collection Overview
 Unique in scope and size
 Created by kids (ages of 2-12) in mediums ranging from paint, pencil, crayon, and pastels, to cardboard and con- struction paper, to rubber, ink, yarn, feathers, etc.
 1,500 paintings (18”x24”), 1,300 collage and line draw- ings (~8”x10”), block prints (4”x6”) and the Linoleum blocks
 Ephemera includes letters and diaries, photographs, notes, manuals and guides
Collections Management (1997-2012)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 At least four exhibits at different venues
 Descriptive book published in 2011
 Most pieces are stored in acid free containers
MISSES
 total number of works remains unknown
 Multiple numbering systems
 Minimal electronic resources; most are flawed
 Collection is scattered & remains unsecured
 Original artwork still displayed long-term in conser- vation poor environment
 Conservation efforts by volunteers lacked oversight
Collections Management (2013-2014)
 Technology grant purchased computers and PastPer- fect software (2013)
 Collage and drawing pieces inventoried into PastPer- fect and backed up onto hard drive
 Categorized with the collection: abstract vs pictorial
 Completed while sharing one computer with Past Per- fect between three or more individuals
 Unpaid graduate student intern
 Kaiser Permanente Heritage Resources cut a deal to digitize oversized works
The Unmanaged Collection: Solving Big Problems with Little Resources
Melinda McCrary, Executive Director at Richmond Museum of History (RMH)
Patricia McCloy, Graduate Student in Museum Studies at John F. Kennedy University (JFKU)
Future Goals
 Inventory & digitize entire collection
 Physically move the collection to a more se- cure storage area in the Museum
 Develop a travelling exhibit and form part- nerships
 Use images for gift shop sales
 Open the collection to additional scholar- ship regarding participants in the program
 Use the collection to better promote the RMH and the role Richmond played in WWII
General Recommendations
 Use common sense and plan for the future!
 Written collection management log prefera- bly in hard copy and easily located
 Comprehensive notes of all collections management & conservation efforts
 Keep a record of where all the notes re- garding the collection are located
WWII Home Front in Richmond
 Over 40 war related industries in Rich- mond
 Population tripled by 1945 due to in- creased economic opportunity
 Todd California Shipyards (owned by H. Kaiser) 747 Liberty and Victory ships
 Beginning of Kaiser Permanente and all prepaid health care system in United States
 Maritime Commission invested heavily to support the war effort; built schools, municipal buildings, and MARITIME CHILD CARE CENTERS
Donald Age 10, 07-03-1944
Robert B. Age 9.5, 1944
Background Art by Lee Pitts, age 7 04/24/1950
Morris Hill, Age 8, n.d.
Maxine Age 11, 01-03-1950
Bonnie Age 10, 12-23-1959
Margie Age 6, 01-18-1949
Sumlin Age 10, 1946
Roberta Age 7, 06-1948
Maritime Child Development Center Classroom Exhibit at Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Richmond, CA. Photo: Eric Chiu, Hamilton+ Aitken Arch.
Monica Haley presenting an art lesson in the Maritime Child Care Centers
Shipyard Workers, Richmond, Ca.
Collection of the Richmond Museum of History
Shift Change, Richmond Shipyards by D. Lange
Collection of the Oakland Museum of California
Current Storage Conditions
Elias, Age 5, 07-04-1945