The Peachtree

City Historic Preservation Committee, recognizing the importance of preserving

historical documents and sites, invited an expert to advise them.

Hilary A. Kaplan,

conservator for the Georgia Department of Archives and History, offered

her expertise on preservation.

"There

are a number of reasons why we preserve," she said. "It could

be for historical reasons, administrative, legal or fiscal reasons. One

of the most important points you need to establish up front is the importance

or pertinence of the items being saved.

"Don't

allow yourself to become a dumping ground. Establish the kind of value

the item has to your city. If there is none, politely turn the item away."

Gerry Holt,

acting committee chairman, said she realized that Peachtree City is 45

years old and that on its 50th anniversary, the city becomes "historic."

"We need

to begin collecting and preserving now. We need to determine where the

items will be kept, its accessibility, and environment," she said.

City librarian

M. T. Allen said that the Joel Cowan Room at the library had begun a collection

of pertinent papers and collections a number of years ago. "With

the proper environment and instructions on care and handling," she

said, "the room would be a perfect beginning."

Holt said she

would like to work out a training session on preservation, inviting local

librarians and historians. "Everyone would benefit and we would be

sure to begin preserving our local heritage in the proper way."

Kaplan left

a folder on various do's and don'ts in preservation and said she would

be glad to return to conduct the training session.