CHESTERTOWN — Historical Society of Kent County Executive Director Maria Wood and board Secretary Erik Gulbrandsen recently accepted a $1,000 grant from The Questers, represented by Courtney Sjostrom, vice president, and Carol Nelson, past president of the Lambert Wickes Chapter.
According to a news release, the money will be used to purchase custom-sized, acid-free archival boxes to safely preserve oversized items in the historical society’s collection. These include family Bibles, photo and scrapbook albums, ledgers and other historically significant items.
“We’re so grateful to the Lambert Wickes Chapter of The Questers for their support,” Wood said.
Last year, the historical society was able to mitigate mold issues affecting some of the historic materials.
The Questers’ grant makes it possible to take the next critical step of housing the historic materials to prevent future damage and ensuring that they can be handled without posing health risks.
“It’s a meaningful investment in the long-term preservation of Kent County’s history,” Wood said in the news release.
According to the news release, the Maryland Questers endorsed the local chapter’s application, recognizing the significant impact these preservation efforts have on safeguarding Kent County’s history for future generations, especially for those researching family heritage.
Founded in 1944, The Questers is dedicated to stimulating the appreciation of antiques and encouraging historic preservation.
The Lambert Wickes Chapter, one of several in the Chestertown area, has supported the Historical Society of Kent County over the years to help in the effort to keep the past available to the future.
“The smiles shared at the check presentation reflect the shared excitement in supporting a key piece of the Society’s larger archival initiative,” the news release states.
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The Historical Society of Kent County is dedicated to preserving, protecting and sharing the rich history of Kent County (Maryland) through its museum, research library, exhibits and programs.
The public is invited to visit the Bordley History Center at 301 High St. in downtown Chestertown, attend events and consider getting involved as a member or volunteer.
Membership benefits include unlimited use of the genealogy and research library by appointment, a discount on books in the museum gift shop and invitations to members-only events.
A donation of $25 is recommended for individual memberships, and $40 for families. Student memberships are always free.
For more information, visit www.kentcountyhistory.org or email admin@kentcountyhistory.org.
