The Stroud Public Library has been awarded $4,378 from the Oklahoma Historical Society for a project titled “Archiving Photographs,” which will focus on archiving photographs that are mostly oversized or on other media.
The library has eight oversized photographs that sustained water damage and now have mold. The funding will provide for a HEPA vacuum, gloves, masks, micro spatula, tweezers with magnifier, soot sponge and supplies for custom enclosures.
Additionally, the grant will furnish supplies to help with proper storage of five panoramic images that need to be unrolled. The photos will be formally inventoried and added to the existing photograph finding aid, making them known to the public for the first time.
“The restoration and preservation of these historic photographs and the unveiling of some images to the public for the first time is exciting for people in my House district who place a high value on our shared history,” said Rep. Kevin Wallace, Wellston. “I’m grateful to the Oklahoma Historical Society for selecting this project for the Stroud Public Library, and I can’t wait to see the finished project.”
“We are eager to move forward with the proper preservation of historical materials contained in our archives,” said Marsha Morgan, librarian at the Stroud Public Library. “We serve as the caretaker of Stroud’s history and preserving the items for future research is a priority. The Oklahoma Historical Society’s foresight in the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is ensuring Oklahoma’s past is conserved and available to all.”
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is a grants-in-aid program offered by the Oklahoma Historical Society with a goal of encouraging the collection, preservation and sharing of Oklahoma history at the grassroots level in all parts of the state. Open to tribal and municipal governments and not-for-profit historical organizations located in Oklahoma and registered with the Oklahoma secretary of state, this grants program offers funding ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for projects focused on collections, exhibits and programming. Applications for this annual program open in the fall and award announcements are made in January. For more information visit www.okhistory.org/grants.
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma.
For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.