– Creation of an electronic database is an integral step in the preservation of the Town’s history, allowing the Society to properly catalogue each artifact, assess its condition, and determine the best method for storage and restoration.  This project builds on the study by Marianne Curling, Consulting Curator, which was supported in part by previously awarded CPA funds.
 
 The collection, consisting of over 5,000 historic objects, is currently exhibited and stored in some 15 rooms in the Simeon Strong House, with another portion, mostly papers, photographs and paintings, held securely at the Jones Library.  Unfortunately no complete list enumerating each acquisition was ever maintained—there are numerous sets of records that partially inventory the collection. However, they are in a number of formats, both paper and electronic, and cannot be easily compared or checked by location.  The master database created under CPA funding will include basic descriptions, accession numbers, location, digital images tied to unique document numbers, and other data, such as the object provenance including the donor name and date of acquisition.  Creating a searchable electronic data base will also provide the Society and the community with an essential tool for years hereafter. A searchable index will also simplify curating future exhibits and improve the educational efforts of the Society.