Collection Spotlight

The E.L. Quarantelli Resource Collection is pleased to announce the arrival of The Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage (IICAH) Archive, developed in partnership with the University of Delaware’s Art Conservation Department through the work of Art Conservation student Taylor Pearlstein. The IICAH was formed to address critical challenges facing cultural heritage organizations in Iraq with regard to recovering and restoring museum collections that were looted or damaged during the country's recent wars and national turmoil. As part of a larger research effort, Pearlstein compiled the archive to serve as a resource for cultural heritage professionals who may look to the IICAH as a model for long-term, international conservation education. The archive will become part of the Resource Collection and will be available to researchers beginning this summer.

For more information about the materials available in the IICAH Archive, view the Finding Aid below:

UD DRC IICAH Finding Aid.pdf

Credit: Taylor Pearlstein

To schedule a time to view the IICAH Archive, please email elq-resource@udel.edu

​Art Conservation student Taylor Pearlstein recently completed her Honors thesis on the work of the IICAH, and compiled this archive in the process. A slideshow describing the project, and her final thesis are available below:

Thesis Presentation 3.pdf

Senior Thesis Final-Taylor Pearlstein.pdf

​The Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage preserves the legacy of humanity contained in the unique cultural heritage of Iraq. It accomplishes this through educating people in conservation and preservation and by inviting professionals from around the world to share their expertise.

For more information about the IICAH, please visit the websites listed below:

The University of Delaware's Art Conservation department maintains an overview page describing the history and governance of the IICAH:

UD Art Conservation - IICAH

The Smithsonian Institution has been active in supporting the IICAH- information about current IICAH-related initiatives at the Smithsonian Institution can be found on their website:

Smithsonian and the Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage

Smithsonian Global - In the Cradle of Civilization, a New Generation Preserves Heritage

The U.S. Department of State provides funding support for the IICAH- information about the State Department's involvement can be found here:

U.S. State Department - IICAH/ICHP

The IICAH Official Facebook page is regularly updated with photos and event listings related to the effort:

IICAH Official Facebook Page