Massillon Museum Renovates Collections Storage Area

Massillon Museum Renovates Collections Storage Area

The Massillon Museum is in the midst of renovating its main storage facility—the third floor of its building at 121 Lincoln Way East in downtown Massillon, a project that will assure the continued safe storage of more than 100,000 works of art and historical artifacts that have been entrusted to it by the community.

The Museum’s 1931 building was home to department stores and small businesses until 1996, when the Museum moved from its previous location in the James Duncan home, now a wing of Massillon Public Library. At that time, public spaces were completed and opened to the public, but funding did not allow for the third floor to be equipped as a Museum-quality storage facility.

Through project-specific state appropriations, grant funding, and foundation support, the project is now possible. The State of Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Hoover Foundation, and the Timken Foundation have generously provided for the costs of the renovation. “This project could not have moved forward without the generous support of the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Timken Foundation and the Hoover Foundation,” said Massillon Museum Executive Director Christine Shearer. “We appreciate their belief in the importance of maintaining a secure, safe environment for the collections so that generations to come will be able to continue enjoying them.”

The Museum continues to raise funds for its share of the expenses by hosting the summer art show, Gallery on the Greens at Glenmoor Country Club; by accepting earmarked contributions from the community; and by offering specific gift opportunities: “adopt an archival box,” “adopt an archival drawer,” and the “preservation honor roll.” Curator Alexandra Nicholis, who is overseeing the collections storage renovation project, welcomes contributions of any amount.

Sol–Harris/Day Architects will manage the project, under the leadership of architect Bill Griffith. Harris/Day, a familiar firm in Stark County for 40 years, was recently presented with the Arts in Stark small business award. The construction phase of the project is slated to be completed by spring.

“Upon the completion of this project,” says Nicholis, “all of the collections will be stored in a safe, clean, temperature- and humidity-controlled, and organized environment. The incredible artifacts of this community deserve this level of care and commitment.”

The project will include creating a room-within-a-room in the existing space. It will be temperature and humidity controlled. New lighting will be installed that will not exceed 30 footcandles. (One footcandle represents the amount of light given off by one candle at a distance of one foot.) “The controlled lighting will minimize the collections’ exposure to light, which can be extremely damaging to textiles and photographs in particular,” explains Nicholis.

The concrete floors will be resurfaced. New heating, ventilating and air conditioning units will be installed to ensure the stability and longevity of collections.

The renovated space will include a research area where staff can examine, process, and photograph collections, as well as facilitate research requests for scholars, students, and members of the community. Naming opportunities for the new research room are also available.

Once the construction is completed and the space is monitored for a few months to ensure that the environment is safe and stable for collections, museum-quality cabinets and shelving will be installed, and the process of slowly moving the collections back into the renovated space will commence. It is estimated that this process will take from one year to one-and-a-half years. Every object will be easily accessible in a proper and safe home, free from overcrowding.

"We appreciate the patience of the community and our visitors with regard to Museum visits, donations, and research requests during this process," says Nicholis. The collections have been temporarily housed in part of the Museum's second floor, where space limitations make them nearly inaccessible. Using that space as storage limits the exhibition space on that level, but visitors can still enjoy The Immel Circus, the Photography Gallery, and the lobby display area.

To contribute to the Museum’s storage facility renovation project, contact Nicholis at 330-833-4061. To learn more about the Massillon Museum, visit www.massillonmuseum.org.

Media Contacts:

Bill Griffith, Vice President Sol–Harris/Day, Project Manager - 330-493-3722

Christine Shearer, Massillon Museum Executive Director - 330-833-4061 / cshearer@massillonmuseum.org

Alexandra Nicholis, Massillon Museum Curator - 330-833-4061 / anicholis@massillonmuseum.org

Margy Vogt, Massillon Museum Public Relations Coordinator - 330-844-1525 / vogt@sssnet.com