Washington, D.C.-(ENEWSPF)- The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently announced nearly $30,000,000 in grants to museums across the nation. Park Forest Historical Society is receiving one of the 244 awards through the agency’s grant programs. Park Forest Historical Society is receiving $22,701 through the Museums for America Collections Stewardship grant program for a two-year project to begin entering its collection into a PastPerfect Collection Maintenance Database, improving intellectual and legal control and making its collections more accessible. The project will cover collections held by the Society in the 1950s Park Forest House Museum, located at 141 Forest Blvd in Park Forest, and in the Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive, maintained at 227 Monee Road, Park Forest.
IMLS Director Susan Hildreth will present a workshop and ceremony on Capitol Hill, on September 18, to recognize the 2013 museum winners and to highlight successful applicants and awards. The event will showcase the many ways museums support learning experiences, serve as community anchors, and are stewards of cultural and scientific heritage through the preservation of their collections.
“IMLS recognizes three valuable roles museums have in their communities: putting the learner at the center, serving as community anchors, and serving as stewards of cultural and scientific collections,” said IMLS Director Susan Hildreth. “It is exciting to see the many ways our newly announced grants further these important museum roles. I congratulate the slate of 2013 museum grant recipients for planning projects that advance innovation in museum practice, lifelong learning, and community engagement.”
The 1950s Park Forest House Museum represents the first five years of village occupancy, 1948-1953. The Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive, is one of the most important sources of images, documents, newspapers, audio and visual recordings, oral histories and artifacts from what is called, "America’s Original GI Town." Park Forest was the first fully-planned, post-World War II suburb, home to one of the first tow shopping centers in the United States.
"This grant will allow the society to increase and improve documentation of both collections, improve intellectual and legal control, and make these collections much more accessible to residents, visitors of the museum, authors, scholars, students, and publishers," says Museum Director and Archivist, Jane Nicoll, who wrote the grant. "We are honored to be awarded, and grateful for the financial help to document Park Forest history. In the near future, we will be recruiting a number of detail-oriented collection volunteers to complete the project." Anyone interested in being interviewed to volunteer may contact Jane Nicoll at 708-481-4252.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Park Forest House Museum
The 1950s Park Forest House Museum, 141 Forest Blvd, is open Wednesday and Saturday, 10:30 to 3:30; or for small groups by appointment at other times. The Archive Office is open Friday 10 to 12; or by appointment. Appointments can be arranged through Jane Nicoll at 708-481-4252. The Society puts on 5 programs each year, usually free and open to the general public. The next program will be former Village Manager, John Perry, who will speak on his book, Blueprint for Building Community, after the Society’s annual meeting, Sunday September 29, 2013, 2:30 p.m. in Park Forest Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive. The Society is always looking for volunteers to act as tour guides for the museum, and collection volunteers for the Archive. They will be recruiting volunteers to help with this two-year project. For more information on the work of the Park Forest Historical Society, and for email contact, visit www.parkforesthistory.org. You can follow the "1950s Park Forest House Museum" and the "Park Forest Historical Society" on Facebook.
