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Experts to assess Jacobs Hall at KSD in Danville: AMNews.com
Many people are unaware that a treasure trove of deaf history resides in Jacobs Hall on the campus of Kentucky School for the Deaf, but a grant from a national preservation organization could change that.
Jacobs Hall Museum, on South Second Street, was chosen for the Conservation Assessment Program administered by Heritage Preservation, a national non-profit that works to preserve cultural heritage.
The grant will provide funding for two museum experts to complete a study of Jacobs Hall and offer their suggestions about how to proceed.
Future funding
JoAnn Hamm, a KSD teacher and the liaison for the grant, said a museum collections specialist and architectural specialist will be in town the week of April 12 to conduct their assessment and develop short, mid-range and long-term preservation plans. The specialists will assess and offer guidance during an exit meeting before offering a detailed report later this year.
The museum, which is run by a large committee, does not lack for unique pieces. In addition to many artifacts, pictures and documents detailing the history of KSD, it holds items such as the portraits of Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc, the founders of deaf education in America, thought to be among only three of each in the world.
Going through the CAP experience will make thousands of dollars in funding available to the museum.
Hamm said some of the needs the four-story museum already has identified include a visual tour on CD so people who are unable to climb stairs can enjoy the collection.
“In some cases, we know what we need to do and aren’t sure how to go about it or the best way to spend what money we do have,” Hamm said. “Our first priority is to preserve the collection and the building, and they will offer guidance on how to do that. The committee wants to continue to attract more people from outside the deaf community.”
Historic landmark
The museum, which is entirely staffed by volunteers, had 1,070 visitors last year, the most in its history, in large part because of a day for students during the Constitution Square Arts Fest.
The building itself also holds a great deal of importance for the history of KSD. Built in the 1870s, Jacobs Hall was declared a national historic landmark in 1966, and the museum was opened in 1986.
“Jacobs Hall was where the middle school and the high school girls lived, worked, learned, studied and played together, creating a lifetime of close friendship after leaving KSD,” said Carolyn Gulley, a former student and teacher. “It is ultimately important for us to preserve Jacobs Hall to continue savoring the deaf history and culture of which we are proud along with keeping the deaf community, Danville and other people adequately and continually aware of and informed of our deaf heritage.”
If you go:
The museum is in Jacobs Hall
at 303 S. Second St. and is open
from 10 a.m. until noon and 1-3 p.m.
Monday through Friday. Tours are free.
Many people are unaware that a treasure trove of deaf history resides in Jacobs Hall on the campus of Kentucky School for the Deaf, but a grant from a national preservation organization could change that.
Jacobs Hall Museum, on South Second Street, was chosen for the Conservation Assessment Program administered by Heritage Preservation, a national non-profit that works to preserve cultural heritage.
The grant will provide funding for two museum experts to complete a study of Jacobs Hall and offer their suggestions about how to proceed.
Future funding
JoAnn Hamm, a KSD teacher and the liaison for the grant, said a museum collections specialist and architectural specialist will be in town the week of April 12 to conduct their assessment and develop short, mid-range and long-term preservation plans. The specialists will assess and offer guidance during an exit meeting before offering a detailed report later this year.
The museum, which is run by a large committee, does not lack for unique pieces. In addition to many artifacts, pictures and documents detailing the history of KSD, it holds items such as the portraits of Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc, the founders of deaf education in America, thought to be among only three of each in the world.
Going through the CAP experience will make thousands of dollars in funding available to the museum.
Hamm said some of the needs the four-story museum already has identified include a visual tour on CD so people who are unable to climb stairs can enjoy the collection.
“In some cases, we know what we need to do and aren’t sure how to go about it or the best way to spend what money we do have,” Hamm said. “Our first priority is to preserve the collection and the building, and they will offer guidance on how to do that. The committee wants to continue to attract more people from outside the deaf community.”
Historic landmark
The museum, which is entirely staffed by volunteers, had 1,070 visitors last year, the most in its history, in large part because of a day for students during the Constitution Square Arts Fest.
The building itself also holds a great deal of importance for the history of KSD. Built in the 1870s, Jacobs Hall was declared a national historic landmark in 1966, and the museum was opened in 1986.
“Jacobs Hall was where the middle school and the high school girls lived, worked, learned, studied and played together, creating a lifetime of close friendship after leaving KSD,” said Carolyn Gulley, a former student and teacher. “It is ultimately important for us to preserve Jacobs Hall to continue savoring the deaf history and culture of which we are proud along with keeping the deaf community, Danville and other people adequately and continually aware of and informed of our deaf heritage.”
If you go:
The museum is in Jacobs Hall
at 303 S. Second St. and is open
from 10 a.m. until noon and 1-3 p.m.
Monday through Friday. Tours are free.
