The Indiana Historical Society along with Hoosier Heritage Alliance partners Association of Indiana Museums, Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Conner Prairie Living History Museum, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Minnetrista, Indiana State Museum, Indiana State Library and Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana received a Connecting to Collections Statewide Planning Grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to create a comprehensive statewide assessment of collections conservation needs and develop collections management strategies to address these needs.

According to the recent Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections the greatest preservation needs of collecting institutions throughout the country are those relating to environmental control, adequate storage capabilities, emergency or disaster preparedness, staff training and funding. To the best of our knowledge, these are the same critical issues that are facing the more than 1,200 organizations in Indiana that are custodians of heritage collections.

A broader survey of these organizations will capture a more precise assessment of Indiana’s specific needs, pinpoint the specific collections and areas most in need and increase awareness of collections care among Indiana organizations.

This statewide assessment will produce a greater understanding of Indiana’s collections needs and provide the means to advocate for the care of Indiana’s heritage collections in the future. The Indiana Historical Society, with the editorial and methodological input of the highly experienced Hoosier Heritage Alliance partners, have developed and will facilitate this survey for organizations that collect or archive the following types of heritage collections: historic artifacts, works of art, manuscripts, books, documents, photographic media including prints and negatives, moving images, sound recordings and digital materials. Based on the analysis of the survey data, the Hoosier Heritage Alliance partners will make a set of recommendations specific to Indiana’s needs and develop a plan of action.

Resources for completing the HHA Survey

Frequently Asked Questions

Glossary

Online Resources

HHA Survey - downloadable PDF file

Attend a regional meeting!

For more information

Toni Lynn Giffin
Collections Survey Assistant, Hoosier Heritage Alliance
Indiana Historical Society, Local History Services
Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-3269

Telephone: (317) 695-4884
Fax: (317) 234-0427
E-mail: tgiffin@indianahistory.org

Hoosier Heritage Alliance Partners

Association of Indiana Museums

Conner Prairie Living History Museum

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art

Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana

Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority

Indiana Historical Society

Indiana State Library

Indiana State Museum

Indianapolis Museum of Art

Minnetrista

Regional Meetings

• September 23, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to noon:
  Minnetrista, Muncie
• October 7, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to noon:
  Davies County Historical Society, Washington
• October 13, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to noon:
  Jackson County Public Library, Seymour
• October 21, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to noon:
  Crawfordsville District Public Library, Crawfordsville
• October 28, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to noon:
  North Manchester Center for History, North Manchester
• November 18, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to noon:
  Buckley Homestead County Park, Lowell
  

This project was supported in part by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the U.S.Institute of Museum and Library Services.