As our institution looks toward getting a good, secure, organized archive
room set up, we are torn between two ideas.  We are a historic house
museum, and as such are in an old structure whose timbers are from 90 to
200 years old.  We have a good integrated alarm system for fire and theft,
but no fire suppression system.  There is some climate control, though
that would be boosted if we were to move archives there.  From a practical
point of view, it seems logical to try to find a space within our physical
building to store archives and provide space for their use.  But there are
people worried about the fire risk of the building.

The other option is to rent a space 15 minutes walk away, in a modern
office building on the main street of the small coastal city we live in.
It has a sprinkler system, alarms, and better climate control - though as
things stand we wouldn't have control of the climate control.  We would
have security systems installed.  Either location would be fitted with
good cabinets and shelves suitable for archives, though I would explore
"fireproof" housing more deeply if the archives were to be in the museum.
Off-site would be a nuisance, as staff would have to suspend other work
any time outside researchers needed to use the archives, not to mention
the added risk of transferring papers back and forth for exhibit and
prolonged staff research.

So, any thoughts on the risks of keeping archives in a historic structure
but on our own property, as opposed to keeping them in a more modern
building with suppression integrated but less in our control and under our
oversite?  I appreciate any thoughts, however random!

Thanks,

Juliette Rogers
Collections Manager/Registrar
Stephen Phillips Trust House
Salem Mass.

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