New! Spring 2026 Workshops
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts Lab Tour
POSTPONED – NEW DATE TBD Friday, March 27 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM
In-Person Tour – .1 CEU
CCAHA offers public tours for small groups interested in an introduction to the conservation and preservation of cultural heritage while getting a glimpse into a working conservation lab. Participants visit our book, paper, and photograph conservation areas, where conservators will share the current projects they’re working on. Tours also will include our digitization, housing, and preservation services areas.
After the tour we will adjourn to a nearby cafe for a social hour to meet with fellow Historic Preservation students.
About The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
Founded in 1977, CCAHA is a regional conservation center with a Conservation team who treat works of art on paper, archival documents, rare books, and photgraphic materials. Through surveys and consultations, the Preservation Services team provides recommendations and guidance for preservation planning, risk assessment and emergency planning, core policy development, collections, storage, and more for all kinds of collection materials.
Location: Onsite at CCAHA – 265 S. 23rd St. Philadelphia, PA 19103)
Cost: $50
Fundamentals of Caring for Paper Collections
Friday, April 10, 2026 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM
In-Person Workshop – .3 CEUs
This workshop will give you an introduction to best practices in caring for any paper-based collection. Topics covered include: handling guidelines, assessing storage materials and special needs items, prioritizing for treatment, and understanding preservation and conservation terminology.
This program is appropriate for those looking to develop new skills, as well as for individuals wanting to increase their knowledge about best practices in the care of paper-based collections.
This workshop is offered in partnership and is delivered by The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
Founded in 1977, CCAHA is a regional conservation center with a Conservation team who treat works of art on paper, archival documents, rare books, and photgraphic materials. Through surveys and consultations, the Preservation Services team provides recommendations and guidance for preservation planning, risk assessment and emergency planning, core policy development, collections, storage, and more for all kinds of collection materials.
Location: Rutgers Camden Campus – Specific Building TBD
Cost: $65
About the Speaker
As Digital Archives Specialist, Kaitlyn Pettengill conducts digital preservation assessments and supports digitization planning for cultural collecting organizations. She advises institutions on developing and implementing digital preservation strategies, technologies, and procedures, and contributes to educational programming. Prior to joining CCAHA in 2024, she worked as Digital Projects Coordinator for the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University and as Digital Services Archivist at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Kaitlyn holds an MLIS from San José State University with a specialization in Digital Collections and Digital Asset Management, an MA in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, and a BA in Art History and English Literature from Franklin & Marshall College. She is a Certified Archivist through the Academy of Certified Archivists and currently serves as Secretary of the Delaware Valley Archivists Group.
Disaster Response and Recovery: A Hands-On Intensive
Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM (Virtual Webinar – Part I)
Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (In-Person Workshop – Part II)
1 CEU
Thoughtful preparation for an emergency or disaster is one of the most important steps that a cultural institution can take to safeguard collections. This two-part, hands-on program will increase your practical knowledge through hands-on salvage of a simulated disaster. Here, you will:
- Learn to use the Incident Command System while learning to salvage a variety of materials, including paintings, wooden furniture, glass/metal/ceramic objects, textiles, paper, photographs, and books.
- Address personal safety, initial site assessment, object triage and tracking, and post-disaster debriefing.
- Strategize on how to strengthen connections between cultural institutions and regional emergency management agencies by working and learning together.
This workshop consists of two parts.
- Part I: Viritual 1-Hour Webinar – the webinar will be recorded and sent to participants
- Part II: In-Person Half-Day Hands-On Workshop (lunch will be provided)
This workshop is offered in partnership and is delivered by The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
Founded in 1977, CCAHA is a regional conservation center with a Conservation team who treat works of art on paper, archival documents, rare books, and photgraphic materials. Through surveys and consultations, the Preservation Services team provides recommendations and guidance for preservation planning, risk assessment and emergency planning, core policy development, collections, storage, and more for all kinds of collection materials.
LOCATION: Part I will be a virtual webinar to prepare for Part II, which is an in-person workshop at the MARCH House – 325 Cooper Street, Camden, NJ 08102
Cost: $250
About the Speaker
Katie (often cited as Katie Lowe) is a Preservation Specialist at CCAHA, where she conducts on-site preservation needs, space, and risk assessments, and supports preservation, storage, and emergency planning work for cultural heritage organizations. A public historian with extensive experience in museums, community programming, nonprofit work, and education, Katie has held roles with organizations including The Holocaust Awareness Museum & Education Center, Pennsbury Manor, The Mercer Museum, The Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace, Old Salem Museum & Gardens, and The Mediation Center. She holds a BA in History and Education from Ursinus College and an MA in History and Museum Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Past Workshops
Introduction to Digitization
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Online Workshop – .2 CEUs
Digitization can support access to collections and, when done thoughtfully, contribute to long-term preservation goals. However, digitization should not be undertaken without an understanding of best practices, safe handling techniques, and informed decision-making.
This workshop provides a practical introduction to digitization for collecting institutions and will cover:
- Key considerations when planning digitization projects
- Establishing policies, priorities, and selection criteria
- Equipment options and basic setup considerations
- Safe handling practices during scanning or photography
- Storage concerns for digital files and media
- An introduction to digital preservation concepts
This program is intended for collections staff and volunteers who are new to digitization, as well as those seeking a refresher on current best practices.
This online workshop is offered in partnership and is delivered by The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
Founded in 1977, CCAHA is a regional conservation center with a Conservation team who treat works of art on paper, archival documents, rare books, and photgraphic materials. Through surveys and consultations, the Preservation Services team provides recommendations and guidance for preservation planning, risk assessment and emergency planning, core policy development, collections, storage, and more for all kinds of collection materials.
Date and Time: Tuesday, January 20 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Location: Online. A zoom link will be sent out via email 24 – 48 hours prior to the workshop.
Learn more about the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts.
Cost: $30
Credits: .2 CEUs
About the Speaker
As the Digital Archives Specialist, Kaitlyn Pettengill conducts digital preservation assessments and assists with digitization planning for collecting organizations. She advises organizations in the ongoing development, implementation, and operation of their digital preservation programs as well as on recommendations for the development and implementation of digital preservation strategies, technologies, and procedures.
Prior to joining the CCAHA staff in 2024, Kaitlyn worked as the Digital Projects Coordinator for the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University and as the Digital Services Archivist at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Before turning to digital archives as her field of study, she was a tour guide at Eastern State Penitentiary and Buckingham Palace.
Kaitlyn earned an MLIS from San José State University, where she specialized in Digital Collections and Digital Asset Management. She also holds an MA degree in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London and a BA in Art History and English Literature from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. Kaitlyn has been a Certified Archivist through the Academy of Certified Archivists since 2019. She currently serves as the elected Secretary for the Delaware Valley Archivists Group.