CARING FOR FAMILY HEIRLOOMS WORKSHOP JANUARY 21 AT CAHOKIA COURTHOUSE

CAHOKIA, IL - The care and storage of precious family heirlooms will be the subject of a free workshop to be held Saturday, January 21 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site in Cahokia, Illinois.

 

Archivist and historian Andrew Cooperman will present the "do's and don'ts" concerning family heirlooms.  Those who attend will gain insights into how old family photographic, paper and textile heirlooms can be properly handled and stored to help preserve them for generations to come.  The causes of deterioration, plus some simple techniques museums use to protect their own collections, will be discussed.  Source material and literature will be available for those who wish to order supplies or conduct additional research.

 

A question and answer session will allow participants to seek advice about specific items.  The workshop is not an appraisal event, so participants are advised to leave their heirlooms at home; however, they are encouraged to bring photographs of the heirlooms to aid their research.  The workshop will conclude with a walk through the museum exhibits in Cahokia Courthouse.  The event is free and open to the public.

 

Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, was built as a residence as early as 1740 and is one of Illinois' oldest surviving buildings.  It served as a center of political and judicial activity in the Old Northwest Territory from 1790 to 1814.  It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for free public tours.  Cahokia Courthouse is located near the intersection of Highway 157 and Route 3 in Cahokia.  Call (618) 332-1782 for more information.