Conservation

IHS’s Conservation Department preserves Indiana history by establishing strategies and treatment methods to preserve and stabilize our collections.

The Conservation and Preservation Imaging labs work together to provide conservation treatment and reformat the William H. Smith Memorial Library’s paper-based collection. We work on books, maps, manuscripts, graphic works, photographic media and film negatives. Our methods benefit the physical needs of collections, from initial handling and examination, provision of customized housings, general cleaning and stabilization, comprehensive laboratory treatment and reformatting of originals with microfilm, digital scanning or digital conversion.

In addition to conserving our own collection, we provide outreach services to nonprofit historical societies, museums and special collection libraries through our Historic Document Preservation Program. 

Conservation Lab

Learn about the processes and equipment we use to preserve valuable pieces of history.

Preservation Imaging Department

Learn about the microfilm, digital scanning and moving image film conversion used at the Indiana Historical Society

Indiana Newspaper Microfilm Project

We have more than 15,000 titles available for purchase by the public.