Products & Services > Historic Furnishings, Research & Object Acquisition > Acquire Objects

Acquire Objects

John Brown's bible

Harpers Ferry Center worked with Harpers Ferry National Historical Park to acquire John Brown's bible from a private collector. The bible is now on display in the park's John Brown exhibit.

  

John Brown's bible

Object acquisition (period and reproduction)

Are you missing a single object, or do you have a large historic house to fill? In either case, or anywhere in between, Harpers Ferry Center curators can help. With over 190 years of combined experience in material culture and the acquisition of antiques, HFC curators are equipped for the most challenging projects. We have curators who specialize in military history, lighting, ceramics, carpets, wallpapers, and window treatments. We also have lots of experience acquiring the unusual, like objects for machine shops, electrotherapy rooms, lighthouses, jails, or courtrooms.

Why is it important to be accurate? Will visitors really know the difference between an 1820s chair and an 1860s chair? Do they care? As employees at National Park Service sites, we have an obligation to provide accurate information. We hold a public trust; our covenant as public servants is to provide information to the American people that is as honest and accurate as possible. We have an obligation to do the best job that we can, especially if our visitors are not knowledgeable enough to know the difference, because our public trusts us to be accurate.

We are in a unique position in the Park Service. We have “the real stuff” at our parks. Our job is to enhance our irreplaceable resources with media based on accurate research. If we do not, we will lose our credibility as the guardians of American history.

Contact Us

Call or email us to request information on our object acquisition services, to get answers to technical questions, or to obtain cost estimates. Contact Deputy Associate Manager John Brucksch (John_Brucksch@nps.gov or 304-535-6119) or one of our other staff curators: Andy Chamberlain (Andy_Chamberlain@nps.gov or 304-535-6117); John Demer (John_Demer@nps.gov or 304-535-6037); Mary Grassick (Mary_Grassick@nps.gov or 304-535-6035); Sarah Heald (Sarah_Heald@nps.gov or 304-535-6134); Carol Petravage (Carol_Petravage@nps.gov or 304-535-6120).

  
Author: Harpers Ferry Center
Last Updated:
http://www.nps.gov