Preservation of Historical Documents

Preservation

…the fundamental purpose… is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such as manner and by such a means will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.

 -The National Park Service Organic Act

August 25, 1916

 

Save America’s Treasures Project

In 1989 Valley Forge National Historical Park inherited 18th century documents and books related to the War for Independence and Valley Forge from the estate of the late author and historian, John Ford Reed. To ensure the future of these valuable resources, the park applied for and received a Save America’s Treasures matching grant to fund necessary conservation of the 44 most fragile of these rare documents. The required match was funded by The Friends of Valley Forge Park and PECO, An Exelon Company. The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia, PA was hired to treat the documents. Images and descriptions of the treatment received by two of the documents are now available through the links below. As the project proceeds, scans and, where necessary, transcriptions of the 44 documents will be added to this website.
 

Headquarters' Orderly Book Conservation
Steuben's Regulations Conservation