Expanding Preservation and Conservation Support Across New York: Two New Chapters for CCAHA
The Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is strengthening its presence across New York through two significant developments: the opening of a new satellite studio in New York City and a renewed five-year commitment to statewide preservation services through Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY). Both initiatives expand access to CCAHA’s unique expertise, helping individuals and organizations care for the materials that matter to them.
A New Presence in New York City
CCAHA is pleased to announce a new affiliation with The Better Image® and the opening of a satellite studio in Chelsea. Under the leadership of conservator Peter Mustardo, The Better Image® has been a trusted name in the care and conservation of fine art and historic photographs for more than 35 years. “We are excited to collaborate and to bring an expanded service menu to his client base,” said Jessica Silverman, CCAHA’s Director of Conservation.
CCAHA staff are available to examine and treat photographic materials at 526 W. 26th Street. The studio will also serve as a convenient point for consultations and the receipt of materials, connecting New York-area clients to CCAHA's full range of services in Philadelphia, including paper and book conservation, housing, framing, and digital imaging. Materials may also be received in New York and transported to our Philadelphia laboratory via fine art shipping as needed.
We welcome our new staff: Lauren Stroupe, Conservation Technician; Ashley Stanford, Associate Conservator and NYC Studio Manager; and Nancy Reinhold, Senior Photograph Conservator. They can be reached at nyc@ccaha.org or 215-545-0613 x 317.
Celebrating Ten Years of DHPSNY—and Five More to Come
This past November marked a decade of DHPSNY, a collaboration between the New York State Archives and the New York State Library to provide free services and support for the state’s archival and library research collections. CCAHA has been honored to deliver these services since 2015, and as we celebrate this milestone, we are excited to announce a new five-year contract to continue administering DHPSNY through 2030.
For ten years, DHPSNY has provided free preservation planning, assessment, and educational services to libraries, archives, museums, and historical organizations—helping nonprofit cultural institutions of all sizes strengthen their ability to care for their collections and make them more widely accessible to the public. This work has taken many forms, including more than 333 site visits, over 110 webinars and recorded sessions, 15 in-person workshop topics delivered across 72 locations, and five multi-week online courses.
From large urban institutions to smaller historical societies, DHPSNY has been proud to partner with a diverse range of organizations stewarding collections that document the people, places, and experiences that shape communities across New York and beyond. Across hundreds of partnerships statewide, these collections tell stories of local neighborhoods, social movements, artistic achievement, environmental change, Indigenous communities, and everyday life from every corner of the state.
"DHPSNY has always been built on relationships with the people doing this work every day," said Amanda Murray, DHPSNY Program Manager. "As we look ahead, we remain focused on expanding access to practical, responsive support that helps organizations across New York strengthen how they care for and share their collections while planning confidently for the future."
While DHPSNY's focus remains on supporting the stewards of New York's collections, the program's success has helped shape the evolution of CCAHA's broader preservation services and educational programming. In turn, CCAHA's national perspective and decades of experience have strengthened the resources and support available through DHPSNY.
For assistance, questions about eligibility, or additional information, contact DHPSNY at info@dhpsny.org or 215-545-0613 ext. 337.
Looking Ahead
Together, these two developments represent different expressions of a single commitment. “We look forward to the new connections, opportunities, and impact these initiatives will help foster,” said Michelle Eisenberg, CCAHA’s Executive Director. “Whether through photograph conservation in New York City or statewide preservation support through DHPSNY, the CCAHA team loves helping individuals, organizations, and communities care for the collections that connect us to our shared past and inform our future.”
Top: The new CCAHA NYC studio space; photo credit: The Better Image®