Delaware Historical Society opens preservation lab for private collections

Household items such as photographs, maps, and certificates face constant threats from humidity, flooding, and pests, according to Karlyn Allenbrand, the community digital preservation coordinator. The Delaware Historical Society is addressing this risk by opening a new program designed to help residents digitize their own personal artifacts before they deteriorate.

The Delaware Community Preservation Lab will hold its first public event at the Delaware History Museum in Wilmington on November 7. The workshop is scheduled to run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Allenbrand stated that the initiative aims to share professional skills with the public, noting that history often begins in private homes rather than formal archives. The lab uses digital photography to capture images of larger objects like quilts, in addition to scanning flat documents.

Corinne Freeth, an archivist with the historical society, emphasized the educational aspect of the program. Freeth said the project seeks to start conversations about cost-effective preservation methods that residents can use at home without hiring outside services. The goal is to help people determine how to maintain their own collections.

Leigh Rifenburg, the director of collections and access for the historical society, explained that individual household items may not appear important in isolation. However, Rifenburg argued that when these private objects are combined with archival materials, they help tell a more complete story of the community.

Rifenburg described the process of preserving personal moments as an honor for the staff. The society views the lab as a way to capture items that hold deep meaning for families, ensuring they remain accessible even if the physical objects are damaged.

The program specifically targets items found in coastal areas where environmental factors accelerate decay. By providing a space for residents to bring their odds and ends, the historical society hopes to expand its digital collection beyond its current institutional holdings.