Thanks to a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), awarded by the State Library of Ohio, the Josephinum A.T. Wherle Memorial Library will proceed with a special project to preserve more of our architectural history. Two sketch books containing drawings and illustrations by the architect of the Pontifical College Josephinum, Francis A. Ludewig, will undergo a professional conservation process.

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 “These one-of-a kind works are significant for their beauty and include drawings from throughout Ludewig’s architectural career,” said Mrs. Beverly Lane, Director of Library Services. Documentation indicates that these drawings were created during his time as an architecture student in Holland, under the guidance of his teacher, as well as drawings from his retirement years.

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In partnership with the Ohio Preservation Council, the State Library of Ohio awarded over $41,000 in Library Services and Technology Act Preservation and Conservation Grants to nine Ohio libraries to fund conservation of historical objects in the libraries’ collections. The goal of the grant initiative is to enable libraries to conserve a single item or preserve a small discrete group of items within their collections. Funds primarily will be used to contract with a professional conservator or conservation lab to preserve the materials to ensure best practices in conservation.

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“Our goal is to have the sketch books available in the library for the Josephinum’s Tour Day in spring 2023,” said Mrs. Lane. “It will be a fantastic tie-in for those visiting and interested in the architectural significance of the 1931 Josephinum building.”

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