ELLSWORTH – Woodlawn Museum has received a $900 grant to provide better preservation and access to its historical collections. The grant was provided by the Maine Historical Records advisory board with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Grant funds will be used to purchase archival storage boxes and file folders to store historical material related to the Black family, Maine’s lumbering history, and the records of the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations.

“This project to rehouse some of our most important archival documents would not be possible without the support of this grant,” said Joshua Torrance, Woodlawn’s executive director.

A recent report to the Maine Legislature documents the fact that many of Maine’s historical collections, which include photographs, paintings, natural history collections, letters and more, are in danger of being lost to mold, mildew or misuse. Maine has an estimated 200 million historical records, many of which are in facilities with little or no security, fire protection, or environmental controls. Recent surveys show Maine people in local government, historical societies and libraries are seeking help to preserve our heritage.

“These local grants support community efforts to protect the stories of our birth, property rights, government, and show how we lived our lives,” said Jim Henderson, director of the Maine State Archives.

The Historical Collections Grant Program has been a joint project of the Maine State Museum and the Maine State Archives, a bureau within the Department of the Secretary of the State. For information about the Historical Collections Grant Program, call Janet Roberts at 287-5791, or e-mail at janet.roberts@maine.gov, or visit www.state.me.us/sos/arc/mhrab/grant/htm. For more about Woodlawn Museum, contact Joshua Torrance, or visit www.woodlawnmuseum.com.