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Public Conservation Lab Opens at the State Historical Society of Iowa

Visitors to the State Historical Society of Iowa will now be able to watch as the conservators study, clean and prepare Iowa’s battle flags for display. Beginning February 1, 2010 the “Collections Cam” will bring the stabilization lab directly to the public. Visitors will be able to converse with the conservators as they work. The “Collections Cam” will be located in the main level of the State Historical Society of Iowa building near the educational classrooms.

Located on the second floor will be a rotating display of completed flags. Visitors will witness the preservation of the flags such as the 2nd Mississippi secession flag currently on display or the 50th Iowa flag from the Spanish American War currently undergoing treatment. With more than 309 flags within the Iowa Battle Flag Project, the “Collections Cam” will demonstrate the Museum’s mission to protect its collections for future generations.

“The stabilization lab is located in a secure portion of the museum and is rarely seen by visitors. Visitors seldom know just how hard we work to care for, study, and keep so many of Iowa’s treasures protected and preserved” said Sheila Hanke, Conservator and Collections Manager of the Iowa Battle Flag Project. “With the Collections Cam we can show visitors exactly what we do behind the scenes to look after Iowa’s remarkable collection of flags.”

The “Collections Cam” will be developing new programs to include video clips, blogs, classroom resources, interactives explaining the process of collections management and conservation, and other special programs.

The “Collections Cam” was made possible by special appropriations from the 82nd Iowa General Assembly and Governor Chet Culver.

2009/2010 Flag Rotation Schedule Announced

Capitol

July 15-Oct. 21, 2009 2001.71.155, 6th Iowa Inf., company, Spanish-American War

Oct. 21, 2009-Jan. 15, 2010 2001.71.42 17th Iowa Inf., regimental, Civil War

Jan. 15-April 15, 2010 2001.71.66, 3rd Iowa Inf., regimental, Civil War

April 15-July 15, 2010 2001.71.64 13th Iowa Inf., national, Civil War

July 15-Oct. 14, 2010 2001.71.128, 25th Iowa Inf., national, Civil War

SHSI

August 15, 2009-Oct 15, 2009 1244, 168th Iowa Infantry, World War I

Oct. 15, 2009-Jan. 15, 2010 7282, Lee County flag, national, Civil War [Harriet Root—maker]

Jan. 15, 2010-April 15, 2010 2001.71.79, 5th Iowa Inf., regimental, Civil War