Moravian Archives Deaccessions Five Maps

[Winston-Salem, NC, February 20, 2024] – The Archives of the Moravian Church in America, Southern Province, has deaccessioned five maps of the hundreds housed in the collection to generate much needed revenue to continue to fulfill its mission and preserve the history of Moravians.

Deaccessioning is the process of removing materials or collections from the care and custody of the Moravian Archives. It is done when material falls out of scope of the Archives current collecting strategies; is a duplicate of material held by the organization; cannot be safely handled or conserved to maintain safe handling; would be costly to continue to house; or any combination of the aforementioned.

In the case of these five maps, they did not depict North Carolina or any regions with Moravian settlements. They were most likely purchased to be used by the Salem community as educational tools but no longer serve a function for the Archives now. The revenue the Archives will receive from these maps will be transformational in achieving long-term, strategic goals. Additionally, the Archives will be provided with high-resolution digital surrogates of each map that can be made publicly accessible for researchers and map enthusiasts.

This decision has been approved and supported by both the Moravian Archives Commission and the Provincial Elders Conference. Once funds are received, the Archivist and Assistant Archivist will confer with both the Commission and the PEC about the allocation of those funds.

The Moravian Archives is the official repository of and serves as the institutional memory for the Moravian Church in America, Southern Province. It serves the Church, its members, and the public by fostering curiosity and discovery through access, preservation, and education.

The Archives’ mission is to ethically steward records and historical materials of Moravians and provide equitable public access to its holdings. 

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