What does one do when a collection simply has too much stuff?
That was the case for the Mapleton Township Historical Society, but the Wellington County Museum and Archives is coming to the group’s rescue.
County council approved on Sept. 29 a recommendation from its information, heritage and seniors committee that allows the Mapleton society to store its artifacts at the museum.
The agreement noted the Mapleton group does not have adequate storage facilities to ensure the preservation of pictures, documents and other items entrusted to its care. It also noted the county museum does have space to do that.
The society will deposit some of its collection with the county facility, subject to Museum and Archives collection criteria, including original pictures, documents and other items that will be catalogued as the “Mapleton collection.”
Copies of pictures and documents will be kept by the Mapleton Historical Society and may be used in displays at the Drayton branch of the county library; and also to illustrate society Newsletters and articles without express permission from the museum.
The agreement also permits the society, from time to time and for a specified time, to borrow items not currently on display at the museum that are in the Mapleton collection, to be used in any display maintained by the Mapleton Historical Society at the Drayton library or elsewhere, provided the condition of the items would not deteriorate with that use.
When the issue came to county council on Sept. 29, Mapleton Mayor and county councillor Bruce Whale thanked the committee, and said the society’s collection had been “racked, stacked, and packed,” and needs a good home.
Warden Chris White agreed, and hinted other municipalities might be able to obtain similar agreements for their historical society.
He said Whale had made “a good point” about crowded collections, and, “A lot of municipalities have stuff in boxes and closets. It’s good to be able to preserve it.”
