Bank of America/IMLS American Heritage Preservation Program

Treasures Preserved with Grants from the IMLS American Heritage
    Preservation Program

An 18th century wool quilt, a 19th century Alutiiq spruce root
basket, and 20th century posters from World War II will be preserved
for future generations with grants from the new American Heritage
Preservation Program awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS) and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.
Through this new public-private partnership, 39 museums and 14
libraries and archives will receive individual grants of up to
$3,000 to preserve treasures that convey the essential character and
experience of the United States. In the program's inaugural year, 53
grants totaling $152,308 were awarded. To view the winners of this
year's grants, please go to
<URL:http://www.imls.gov/news/2009/022309_list.shtm>.

"With these awards, communities will be able to rescue exceptional
objects that link their pasts to their futures," said Anne-Imelda M.
Radice, IMLS Director. "This grant program is an important part of
IMLS's Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a multi-year,
multi-pronged initiative to protect our national treasures." Nearly
190 million objects in U.S. collections are in immediate danger of
deterioration and need restoration or conservation, according to the
Heritage Health Index report. To view the report, please go to
<URL:http://www.heritagepreservation.org/HHI/full.html>.

In this first round of grants, AHP grants were awarded to museums,
libraries, and archives to treat, re-house, and improve the storage
environments of important collections. Outstanding examples of
funded projects include:

    *   Canton Historical Society in Canton, MA, will use the funds
        to clean and stabilize the fabric of the 1787 Martha Howard
        Quilt, an exceptionally fine example of an early New England
        quilt with calendared wool and delicate stitching detail
        still intact. The quilt was made by the wife of an early
        minister of the Congregationalist church in town, with
        direct ties to current residents and several other community
        organizations.

    *   The Baranov Museum in Kodiak, AK, will use the funds to
        treat a rare 19th century Alutiiq spruce root basket
        discovered in an archaeological excavation in 2008. This
        project will also allow for the creation of a permanent
        support for storage and exhibition of the basket.

    *   The Phillips Free Library in Homer, NY, will use the grant
        funds to restore a portrait painted by a local artist,
        Sanford Thayer, who was both a celebrated portrait artist
        and teacher of some renown in the community. The
        conservation measures will allow the portrait to remain on
        exhibit in the library.

    *   The library at the Delaware County Community College will
        use the funds to conserve 19 original World War II posters
        that were collected by a member of the community when he was
        a young man in the 1940s. The posters were produced by
        various government and civilian agencies and were used to
        encourage the enlistment of men and women into military
        service, the purchase of war bonds, donation of blood,
        planting of Victory Gardens, and a general encouragement of
        patriotism to win the war. The preservation measures will
        allow the posters to be made available for exhibit at the
        college, to be loaned to community organizations, and used
        by history faculty at the College and requesting schools.

Approximately 150 grants of $3,000 each will be awarded over the
next three years to preserve specific items, including works of art
and historical documents, held in small museums and libraries.

The next application deadline is Sept. 15, 2009. For questions about
museum projects, please contact Christine Henry, Senior Program
Officer, at 202-653-4674. For questions about library or archival
projects, please contact Kevin Cherry, Senior Program Officer, at
202-653-4662.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source
of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500
museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and
museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute
works at the national level and in coordination with state and local
organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance
learning and innovation; and support professional development. To
learn more about the Institute, please visit

    <URL:http://www.imls.gov>.

About Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy: Building on a
long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves,
Bank of America this year embarked on a new, ten-year goal to donate
$2 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the
health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Funded by Bank of
America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave more than
$200 million in 2008, making the bank the most generous financial
institution in the world and the second largest donor of all U.S.
corporations in cash contributions. Bank of America approaches
giving through a national strategy called "neighborhood excellence"
under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the
most pressing needs of individual communities. Through Team Bank of
America, bank associate volunteers contributed more than 900,000
hours in 2008 to enhance the quality of life in their communities
nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate
Philanthropy, please visit

    <URL:http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation>


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