Documentary Heritage & Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) is a statewide program of the New York State Archives and New York State Library which provides free planning and education services to archives, libraries, museums, and other institutions that safeguard and ensure access to New York’s historical records and unique research materials. Preparation for an emergency or disaster is one of the most important steps a cultural institution can take to safeguard collections.
RTPI is the only official institutional steward of the life works of Roger Tory Peterson. We maintain, exhibit and make accessible to researchers and the public Peterson’s original art, manuscripts, slides, film, correspondence, as well as his reference materials. These reference materials include a rare book collection and natural history specimens, including a historic preserved bird specimen collection that includes an Ivory–billed Woodpecker, Passenger Pigeons, and other now extinct species.
RTPI’s Jane Johnson and Amy Hudson recently attended a hands-on, intensive Disaster Response and Recovery Workshop – offered by DHPSNY and held in Lily Dale, New York – to increase their practical knowledge of how to safely and effectively respond should a sudden disaster threaten RTPI’s unique and irreplaceable collections. This is an example of how we abide by our motto to Learn It, Love It and Protect It! For more about DHPSNY’s programs, visit their website, http://dhpsny.org/.
