Gerald Ford Conservation Center

May 1^st, or May Day, is the day set aside by cultural institutions to make sure they are prepared in case of emergencies.

These certificates are now more stable and with proper storage and handling will be for many years to come.

Is the object going to be “preserved”, “restored,” or “conserved”?   What is the difference and why does it matter?  Let’s find out.

We knew we couldn’t halt the rapid degradation of the silk, but luckily there was a simple way to salvage what remained and prevent further loss of original material.  

It’s a new year and a good time to remind our blog readers of what we do at the Ford Center.  

The painting was the centerpiece of an exhibit on John Falter at the Nebraska History Museum in 2012.  It was in good condition but needed a little help to be exhibit-ready.

It’s easy to take paper for granted.  We use it for everything: writing, printing, books, receipts, packaging, money, even for cleaning. But what did people use before paper?

We often think that because we value something, it was always seen as valuable and worth keeping.  Especially if that cherished object is old, we like to think that it was previously held in high regard.  But objects come in and out of fashion. 

Seventy-five years ago, the USS Missouri was the site of the surrender of the Empire of Japan to Allied Forces, ending World War II.  The signing of the surrender took place on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.  The Missouri was the last battleship commissioned by the United States and had been christened at her launching by Mary Margaret Truman, daughter of Harry S. Truman, then a United States Senator from Missouri. 

There has been a lot of buzz lately about the United States Postal Service and the essential public service it provides.  Not only does it ensure our letters and important documents arrive on time, but it is a lifeline for small businesses and people who need medication delivered. It enables mail-in voting when people are away or cannot vote in-person, and it employs nearly 100,000 veterans!  The USPS is also the only mail service that serves remote, rural areas.