YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University has successfully secured a $4,551 grant from The Youngstown Foundation for the preservation of valuable McDonald Steel artifacts.
The grant, to be used by The Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor will provide essential support for the collection, transportation and preservation of the pieces of industrial history.
With the closure of McDonald Steel, many historical artifacts were at risk of being scrapped or lost. The grant will fund the conservation, archival storage and shelving of the artifacts, which will be accessioned within YSU’s collection at the Steel Museum. Supplies including three custom shelving units were purchased to ensure flexibility and to accommodate larger, heavier objects, with volunteers, interns and a dedicated curator assisting in the project.
Through an agreement with Ohio History Connection and YSU’s history program, the museum will continue to curate and care for the McDonald Steel collection as part of its ongoing efforts to preserve Youngstown’s industrial heritage.