Founded on August 25, 1916, by President Woodrow Wilson, the National Parks Service (NPS) was created to safeguard the United States' breathtaking scenery, natural and historic treasures, and wildlife. This mandate aimed to ensure that these resources could be enjoyed while also preserving them for future generations.
Today, the NPS oversees over 400 national parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, and recreation areas. As the organization has expanded, it has developed an array of incredibly valuable resources for museum and archive professionals. These resources offer guidance and support for managing, preserving, and interpreting collections.
Today, the NPS oversees over 400 national parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, and recreation areas. As the organization has expanded, it has developed an array of incredibly valuable resources for museum and archive professionals. These resources offer guidance and support for managing, preserving, and interpreting collections.
Resources from the national parks service
- Museum Handbook
- Conserv-O-Grams: These leaflets, published in loose-leaf format, focus on caring for museum objects. New topics are added, while outdated issues are revised or deleted. Semiannual supplements will continue to be issued. We have selected several Conserv-O-Grams we have referenced regularly.
- How to Select Gloves: An Overview for Collections Staff
- How to Flatten Folded for Rolled Paper Documents
- Caring for Photographs: General Guidelines
- Labeling Textiles in Museum Collections
- Safe Plastics and Fabrics for Exhibit and Storage
- Cleaning Wood Furniture
- Preparing and Storing Herbarium Specimens
- Removing Original Fasteners from Archival Documents