OPR Sets Sights on Cedar Rapids

Operation Photo Rescue (OPR) is looking forward to the copy run in Cedar Rapids, Iowa October 9-10 of this year. This will be the second copy run, following on the heels of the run in Galveston, Texas in May for those hit by Hurricane Ike.

In June 2008 Cedar Rapids suffered a devastating flood that surpassed even a 500 year flood plan prediction. A majority of homes did not have flood insurance because they were not considered at risk. In the end, the flooding in Eastern Iowa comes in third as the most expensive US disaster in history following Katrina and 9-11.

In checking for a place to conduct the copy run, I was referred by another museum to check with the African American Museum (http://www.blackiowa.org/index.html) to see if we could offer some assistance. I spoke with Susan Kuecker, curator, who spoke of the damage the museum received: 

“The collections of the African American Museum of Iowa were damaged in the floods that devastated Cedar Rapids, Iowa June 11-16, 2008. Of the AAMI’s 60 feet of archival material, approximately 40 feet got wet. Included in the archives were hundreds of photos of Iowa’s African Americans. Archival correct housing did help protect the AAMI’s photographs, but despite this, many were damaged. The service offered by your institution will help the AAMI restore its precious photographs.”

 

Collection Room

Here  is a photo taken by the musem of the collection room the first day they were allowed back in the building.

OPR will be operating in the Aldeen Davis Celebration Hall of the African American Museum, which provides space for up to 200 people. Not only will OPR be able to offer assistance to those with damaged photos, but to the museum in restoring their historical photos damaged by the flooding.  

In the coming weeks OPR will be holding a donation drive to help fund the trip to Cedar Rapids. With the loss of our grant, we depend now more than ever on the generosity of others to make this trip possible. Donations can be made through “Chip In” on OPR’s home page or using the “Donate” button at the bottom of the page. Checks may also be mailed to OPR’s headquarters:

Operation Photo Rescue, Inc.

5204 Mc Manus Drive

Fredericksburg, VA 22407

Margie Hayes