The Paderewski Association / Preservation Program

CONSERVATION PROGRAM

The Polish Museum of America, founded in 1935, is one of the oldest and largest ethnic museums in the United States of America. Located in the first Polish neighborhood in Chicago, it promotes the knowledge of Polish history and culture, especially promulgates Polish and Polish American art in its paintings, sculptures, drawings and lithographs by well-known artists.

With the expansion of the Museum, the Paderewski Association took the obligation to assist it in implementing policies and procedures for preventive care and overseing the preservation of its collections. The Paderewski Association whose leaders are experinced and well educated in the field of art conservation and preservation provides guidance for changes in display and conservation work. The Paderewski Association also helps the Museum with establishing volunteer programs, supports and explores public and private funding.




Home About Us Ignacy Jan Paderewski Preservation Program Annual Auction 2008 Events Photo Album Press Sponsors Contact Information			Undated photograph of the Polish Museum of America located at 984 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago
		CONSERVATION PROGRAM The Polish Museum of America, founded in 1935, is one of the oldest and largest ethnic museums in the United States of America. Located in the first Polish neighborhood in Chicago, it promotes the knowledge of Polish history and culture, especially promulgates Polish and Polish American art in its paintings, sculptures, drawings and lithographs by well-known artists. With the expansion of the Museum, the Paderewski Association took the obligation to assist it in implementing policies and procedures for preventive care and overseing the preservation of its collections. The Paderewski Association whose leaders are experinced and well educated in the field of art conservation and preservation provides guidance for changes in display and conservation work. The Paderewski Association also helps the Museum with establishing volunteer programs, supports and explores public and private funding.
		NEED CONSERVATION ____________________________________
			The Royal Sleigh In 1703, Polish King Stanislaw Leszczynski would have never imagined that the Christmas gift for his daughter, princess Maria (who later became wife of Louis XV, King of France) would travel thousands of miles across the ocean to a country and city yet to be built. Carved out of a single piece of wood in the shape of powerful open-jawed fish, this 300 year-old piece of European history will be restored. In the 1970s, the Polish Museum received the sleigh as a gift of John D. Catherine T. McArthur Foundation. top of page

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			Books, Documents, Letters, Photographs... During the first few years at the Museum the Archival collections grew substantially through very aggressive acquisition policies. Under the direction of Mieczyslaw Haiman, a large collection of books and pamphlets about Poland and by Polish authors was collected. Later, this collection was catalogued into “Polonica Americana” and “Polonica in English.” Complete collections of Polish-language newspapers, religious records, photographs and maps were also acquired. The maps, mostly of Eastern Europe, turned out to have some significance. It seems that the Archives had the only detailed maps of the area outside of German occupied Europe. The visitor’s logbook records, without other comment, that on May 7, 1943 twenty employees of U.S. Navy Intelligence Service spent some time in the Museum's facilities. Curiously, there are no further entries in the logbook after that entry on May 7 until May 17, 1943. During the succeeding decades, the Museum has continued to acquire many books, other publications and other artifacts as well as a great deal of works of art. The Museum has, from its beginning, and still does benefit from the generous support and sponsorship of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America. Today, the Museum is a recognized resource for materials pertaining to Poland and the Polish-American community. Managing this eclectic collection is a very challenging and complex task. Only a relatively small portion of the Museum’s assets are on display at any given time. The remainder must be preserved and stored in ways that allow for convenient reference and future research. The Museum is determined to continue its mission to Polish and Polish-American past for the benefit, instruction and education of current and future generations.
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			A. Fablok Co. Engine model Pt-31 This is approximately 1:10 model / replica of A. Fablock train Engine. It was exhibited at 1939 World Fair in New York. The engine is perfectly replicated with even the smallest details shown. Logos, plaques, and small finishing details are perfectly executed. This is a one of a kind replica of this type of engine. Most of the components and surfaces of the train are in structurally stable condition. In general, all major elements are in place. However, there are numerous bent and broken small elements such as: steps, doors, hinges of doors, and covers. The lights are demaged. The proper left engine cover of the front of the engine is detached from the hinges. The properright cover of the front of the engine is missing. The roof of the engine has numerous bent elements, dents, deformations and scratches. Where the paint is missing, the metal is actively corroding. The chromed bumpers at the front and the back are tarnished and abraded. The engine has been made of ferrous metal, copper, aluminum and chromed and painted ferrous metal. The painted areas appear to have original paint on their surfaces (tests are needed to determine if the paint is original). The color scheme appears to be original. Approximately 40% of the painted surface is missing paint or has paint delaminating from the substrate. The entire surface of the object is dirty. In general, this model is in structurally stable condition, but has numerous small elements loose, damaged, detached, or missing. The paint appears to be original, but much of it is lost or actively separating from the substrate. From the evaluation by CSOSinc, 03/10/2006 top of page
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			Paintings and Frames Paintings conservation includes examining, documenting, researching and treating paintings for exhibition. The conservation staff has an ongoing commitment to furthering the knowledge and understanding of the works of art in its care. Technical examination, documentation and research play a fundamental role in conservators’ professional development and ability to maintain the highest possible standards of care. In conjunction with art historians and conservation scientists, painting conservators research the structure of individual paintings, and artists' materials and methods, as well as techniques nd materials used in conserving paintings. This interdisciplinary approach provides invaluable information on artists' original intent, as well as insight into how the conservators’ treatments will impact the structure and final appearance of the paintings that are treated.
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