Bill Maguire and Paul Morris have offered some intriguing solutions in
MMDigest to the condition problems at the Bovey Collection.  I think
both have some really good suggestions.  I'm not familiar with the
collection but, as a museum professional and a conservator who has been
lurking on this list for a while, I'd like to offer my two cents.

There's been several mentions of the poor environment where these
instruments are housed.  To me, it makes little sense to spend money on
restoration work and have the work be undone over time by a bad climate
and untrained museum staff.  Any real attempt to get this collection
stabilized should also work to improve the climate and educate the
staff.  While none of this is inexpensive, there are sustainable
options out there.

There are also ways of boosting the power of donations with federal
money through standard federal grant programs to museums.  While most
grants require a 1:1 match, through either funds or staff time, some
other smaller grants do not require a match.

These smaller grants are

(a) The Conservation Assessment Program which could bring in a conservator
to assess the environment of the two buildings and suggest practical,
sustainable solutions.  http://heritagepreservation.org/CAP/about.html


(b) The guidelines for Preservation Assistance Grants to Smaller
Institutions are a bit more flexible in that they could provide funding
for the mechanical instrument restorer's time as well as for a
conservator's to do an assessment of the condition of the collection.
http://neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html


One reason to pursue the smaller grant is that they can be used to
bring in specialists to develop a plan of action that will help in
the design of grant proposals for the larger matching grants.  The
reviewers for the larger grants like to see that the applicants have
successfully gone through a smaller process before.  Since the
reviewers for the grants mentioned below tend to be conservators,
they like to see that the institution is at least in the process of
developing a long range plan to take care of their collections.

(c) Applicable larger matching grants might include Preservation and
Access Grants for Stabilizing Humanities Collections,
http://neh.gov/grants/guidelines/stabilization.html

(d) Save America's Treasures
http://www.saveamericastreasures.org/funding.htm  and

(e) Museums for America
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/forAmerica.shtm

Any of these could provide funding to make improvements to the museum
environment and to stabilize or restore important instruments.

(f) Digitization, documentation (which might include copying), and
preservation of the rolls could possibly be funded through Preservation
and Access Grants: Humanities Collections and Resources
http://neh.gov/grants/guidelines/Collections_and_Resources.html

The thing is that the Montana Heritage Commission needs to determine
that the condition of the Bovey Collection is their highest
conservation priority.  They will need to take time to identify
appropriate consultants, talk to the various grant administrators
to find out which grants would best suit their needs, and then write
the proposals, ideally with the help of the consultants.  The best
solutions for this institution will likely require some creative
collaborations.

I should get back to lurking.

Nancie Ravenel
Shelburne Museum
Shelburne, Vermont