Chautauqua Literary
& Scientific Circle's Banner
Collection
The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC)
founded in 1882 has produced every year a banner to
celebrate the culmination of each years graduating class.
This unique and diverse collection represents artistic and
fiber arts technology over the course of a century and a
quarter. The inclusion of mottoes also reflect the thinking
of the time. This collection continues to expand. The
banners hung on the walls of the Alumni Hall and are
carried in the annual Recognition Day Parade.
Spicer Art Conservation, LLC began assisting the Banner Committee in 2000 with a survey of
the banners' condition. The environment of Alumni Hall
was monitored as part of the development of long-term
recommendations for the proper care of the collection.
The focus of the project quickly moved from individual
treatment to proper storage and preventive care for the
collection. Policies and procedures needed to be
developed that address the use of the collection.
Gwen Spicer over several years gave talks and conducted
workshops to train the committee members on the care and
storage techniques that were specially developed for the
collection. This enabled the Banner Committee to divided
the banners into groups that included inactive, soon-to-be
inactive and active banners. The active banners remain
hanging on the walls of the Alumni Hall and are carried in
the parade.
The Chautauqua Institution expanded their
Oliver Archives Center to include a room for the storage
of the banner collection. The storage was designed for
the inactive and soon-to-be inactive banners using
InterMetro Industries shelving. The facility was
designed for each banner to have its own shelf and
supported on a sturdy handling tray. Each shelf unit was
given a dust cover and placed on caster wheels.
