Mercer Museum awarded federal grant

The Mercer Museum, operated by the Bucks County Historical Society (BCHS), has received a grant to improve the care, management, and cataloging of 500 artifacts installed in its 1916 historic Central Court.

The museum was the recipient of an $111,907.00 matching grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency, in 2022 as part of IMLS’ Museums for America grant program which will support the Mercer Museum’s aim of preserving and providing access to the collections entrusted to its care.

The grant will allow the museum to fully perform an inventory, clean, catalog, and assess the condition of objects that are free-standing and suspended from the ceilings and mezzanines of the Mercer Museum’s historic Central Court. Beginning this month, a hydraulic lift will be used to survey the artifacts hanging in the core of the Mercer Museum — unreachable otherwise from the ground. The survey is anticipated to be completed of 2024.

During this time, the grant project team will photograph these artifacts and collections, assess lighting conditions, and conduct historical and contextual research to inform future museum planning and enhancing the knowledge of museum staff and guests. In the future, data about the Central Court artifacts could enhance visitor engagement through an online catalog, as well as in person at the museum.

Henry Mercer’s unusual presentation of artifacts “wowed” visitors in 1916 when the museum opened, and Mercer’s vision continues to evoke surprise, awe, and curiosity among modern visitors. By thoroughly documenting and assembling historical information on the nearly 500 artifacts in the museum’s core, this project works toward satisfying this curiosity and addressing any gaps in knowledge regarding the artifacts.

The Mercer Museum project was one of 120 projects nationwide funded through IMLS’ Museums for America grant program in 2022. Of these 120 grants, only eight were for projects in Pennsylvania. The matching portion of the Mercer Museum grant, $112,504.00, is being supported by community contributions and the museum’s operating funds.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. They advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Their vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities.