Preservation on the Road: CCAHA Brings Hands-On Training to Regional Organizations

At CCAHA, we often say that preservation is a proactive journey. While much of our work happens within the walls of our lab, we’re just as committed to bringing that expertise directly to the professionals and volunteers who care for collections in their own institutions.

Our hands-on workshops bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering technical training tailored to each organization’s needs. Whether through self-funding or in collaboration with our team to secure specialized grants, these sessions equip staff with the practical skills needed to protect and sustain cultural heritage.

Here’s a look at where this work has taken us recently, supported by grants we’re proud to have helped secure.

On the Road with PACSCL: Housing Solutions and Book Cradles

This March and April, CCAHA delivered a series of hands-on workshops for members of the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (PACSCL), supported by a Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation grant for member training. The sessions brought together a professional audience of archivists, registrars, graduate students, and recent graduates entering the field.

The series opened with Preservation Specialist Katie Lowe leading Housing Solutions at the Philadelphia City Archives, introducing participants to effective, accessible approaches to rehousing vulnerable materials.

It continued with Book Cradles for Reading Rooms and Exhibitions, presented by Senior Book Conservator Eliza Gilligan and held at the Philadelphia City Archives and Laurel Hill Cemetery. Focusing on the risks of improper support, the session combined discussion with hands-on construction. Participants created simple, low-cost custom cradles and left with the skills to better support bound materials in both reading room and exhibition settings.
 

Workshops Across New Jersey: From Photographs to “Red Flags” 

Through New Jersey’s Institutional/Financial Stabilization Grants for Arts Organizations, CCAHA partnered with organizations across the state to deliver hands-on training tailored to their collections. These workshops primarily served community-based audiences, including historical society members, volunteers, and others actively caring for collections without formal preservation training.

In Cape May, our Photograph Conservation team led Preserving Your Photographic Collections at the Cape May County Historical & Genealogical Society. Participants identified and handled photographs from our study collection and explored the history of photography through an interactive timeline, gaining practical strategies for managing the distinct vulnerabilities of photographic materials.

In Haddonfield, Preservation Specialist Katie Lowe launched a new workshop series for the Historical Society of Haddonfield. The first session, Red Flag! Identifying Preservation Needs While Processing Collections, focused on early risk detection. Participants practiced proper handling techniques and reviewed materials that help mitigate damage during processing. Upcoming sessions will build on these fundamentals with training in disaster response, risk assessment, and collections management systems.
 

Interested in hosting a workshop? Our offerings are highly customizable. Whether you are interested in a half-day intensive or a multi-part series, we can help you develop a curriculum—and a funding strategy—that works for you. Our staff provides guidance on regional and national funding opportunities and offers grant-writing support for projects involving CCAHA services. 

Explore our full list of workshop topics, or reach out directly to Education Programs Manager Greg Stuart at gstuart@ccaha.org or (215) 545-0613 x336 to get started.

Images (from top): Participants of the photographic conservation workshop at the Cape May County Historical & Genealogical Society; a custom-constructed book cradle; Preservation Specialist Katie Lowe leading a "Red Flag!" workshop at the Historical Society of Haddonfield.