RCHS Member Event – Preserving Our Past Workshop
RCHS Member Event – Preserving Our Past Workshop
Ramsey County Historical Society Member Event – Preserving Our Past Workshop
Metro Square, 121 7th Pl E, St Paul, MN 55101
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
5:30 PM-8:00 PM
$65, Dinner provided
Family heirlooms carry stories, memories, and connections across generations—but without proper care, even the most treasured items can fade, crack, or deteriorate over time. This hands-on workshop offers practical guidance on how to preserve and protect meaningful objects passed down through your family.
Participants will learn best practices for caring for common heirlooms such as photographs, documents, textiles, books, and small keepsakes from RCHS’ Director of Collections and Exhibits, Mollie Spillman. Topics include safe handling, basic cleaning, proper storage, environmental risks, and when to seek professional conservation help. The workshop also addresses common myths about preservation and shares simple, affordable steps you can take at home.
Whether you’re safeguarding a box of old photos, a handwritten letter, or a cherished family object, this workshop will help you extend the life of your heirlooms so their stories can continue to be shared for generations to come. No prior experience is necessary, and all are welcome.
Dinner will be provided, and guests are invited to bring one item in for evaluation. Guests will be allowed to tour the RCHS collections at Metro Square after the event.
An intake form will be emailed out to attendees once registered.
Mollie Spillman – Since joining Ramsey County Historical Society in 1994, Mollie Spillman has been responsible for managing the Society’s collection. She has a B.S. degree in history from Ball State University and an M.A. degree in historical administration from Eastern Illinois University and. She has held posts as a corporate collections manager/archivist in Illinois, and as a senior intern at Henry Ford Museum in Greenfield Village, Michigan. She has also served on the boards of the Twin Cities Archives Round Table, the North Star Museum for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and the Nettle Creek Valley Museum.