Hidden Collections Initiative of Delaware County

Delaware County Historic Preservation Network presents

Hidden Collections Initiative to Delaware County

Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Delaware County Gov't Center Building, County Council Meeting Room, 201 W Front Street, Media, PA

Hundreds of small archival repositories in the five-county Philadelphia region hold thousands of individual collections documenting a wide range of topics and geographic areas. Private, non-profit organizations with a history-based mission or that have historically significant archival collections, that agree to make their archives available to the public, and that do not employ a full-time, professionally trained archivist are eligible for participation in the project.

Project staff identify small archival repositories in the Philadelphia area, survey and assess their archival collections, and create summary finding aids to these collections. The finding aids are made publicly accessible in an online database developed by the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (PACSCL). Within this single online resource, researchers may search collections held at a wide range of Philadelphia-area archival repositories, from the smallest all-volunteer organizations to the largest professional institutions.

In 2013, DCHPN introduced representatives of the Hidden Collections Initiative to Delaware County historic groups and outlined the services they could offer.  Join us for this presentation on the collections in Delaware County that have been cataloged and find out how your organization can be involved in the Initiative’s continuing effort to add additional collections to the online database. Participating organizations receive a report on improving their collection.

An added bonus to the event will be a display of unique and rare Delaware County books and artifacts from Keith Lockhart's collection for everyone to enjoy before the event as you mingle with colleagues and friends. Give will give a 5 minute talk at 645 about some of the items.

 

Free and open to all.  Please register at hallj@co.delaware.pa.us or 610-891-4910. 

Refreshments will be served