Quester News Releases
Questers Receive Grant for Restoration
Work at Sarpy County Museum
Questers Corps of Discovery #1504 is the recipient of a 2020 International grant of $4,140.35 from The Questers for a Preservation and Restoration (P&R) project entitled “The Doctor is in: Restoring Nebraska’s frontier medical history”. The award was to be presented at The Questers International Convention in Colorado in May; however, the coronavirus pandemic caused the cancellation of the convention. The Questers headquarters instead contacted winning chapters directly to inform about their respective awards and also posted a comprehensive listing on the organization website.
The aim of the project was and is to restore for safekeeping and display a set of garments of Dr. Erastus Upjohn. Born in England, Dr. Upjohn came with his family to Bellevue, Nebraska on May 10, 1854. As one of the first men of medicine in the Nebraska Territory, he found himself with an immense amount of work that spanned many miles. Dr. Upjohn also served in the Second Nebraska Volunteer regiment in 1863 as a surgeon for the unit. His service to the community lasted for twenty five years until his death on March 11, 1879. Dr. Upjohn's son became a doctor and his daughter in law became the first woman to practice medicine in the county.
The Upjohn garments are owned by the Sarpy County Museum in Bellevue Nebraska. Dr. Upjohn's frock coat, vest, tie and dickey were donated to the Sarpy County Museum in 1979. Over 150 years old, they are unfortunately well worn and in need of restoration. Restoration of the four articles of clothing is done by the Ford Conservation Center. The Ford Center identified that their primary effort will be to stabilize tears and holes with matching fabric and preserve Dr. Upjohn's items from becoming worse or further damaged. Additional work consists of cleaning delicate materials, reattaching loose buttons, repairing the manufacture tag of the coat, reinforcing coat arms with acid free tissue paper and rehousing artifacts in an archival box. The purpose of this grant is to assist in the restoration of these unique historical artifacts.
This year’s Questers International grant was obtained by Questers Corps of Discovery #1504 with the support of Questers La Belle Vue #933, both in Bellevue Nebraska. In 2019 a Nebraska State Questers grant to La Belle Vue #933, then with the support of the Corps of Discovery #1504, served as a springboard for this project, enabling some of the restoration work to begin. On April 30, 2020 Corps of Discovery Chapter president Bob Zielinski presented a check for the grant amount to Ben Justman, Director of the Sarpy County Museum for this project
Once restored, the garments will be displayed at the museum and used to help teach about medical history. They will be placed on display with signage crediting THE QUESTERS The Corps of Discovery #1504 and La Belle Vue #933.
Work at Sarpy County Museum
Questers Corps of Discovery #1504 is the recipient of a 2020 International grant of $4,140.35 from The Questers for a Preservation and Restoration (P&R) project entitled “The Doctor is in: Restoring Nebraska’s frontier medical history”. The award was to be presented at The Questers International Convention in Colorado in May; however, the coronavirus pandemic caused the cancellation of the convention. The Questers headquarters instead contacted winning chapters directly to inform about their respective awards and also posted a comprehensive listing on the organization website.
The aim of the project was and is to restore for safekeeping and display a set of garments of Dr. Erastus Upjohn. Born in England, Dr. Upjohn came with his family to Bellevue, Nebraska on May 10, 1854. As one of the first men of medicine in the Nebraska Territory, he found himself with an immense amount of work that spanned many miles. Dr. Upjohn also served in the Second Nebraska Volunteer regiment in 1863 as a surgeon for the unit. His service to the community lasted for twenty five years until his death on March 11, 1879. Dr. Upjohn's son became a doctor and his daughter in law became the first woman to practice medicine in the county.
The Upjohn garments are owned by the Sarpy County Museum in Bellevue Nebraska. Dr. Upjohn's frock coat, vest, tie and dickey were donated to the Sarpy County Museum in 1979. Over 150 years old, they are unfortunately well worn and in need of restoration. Restoration of the four articles of clothing is done by the Ford Conservation Center. The Ford Center identified that their primary effort will be to stabilize tears and holes with matching fabric and preserve Dr. Upjohn's items from becoming worse or further damaged. Additional work consists of cleaning delicate materials, reattaching loose buttons, repairing the manufacture tag of the coat, reinforcing coat arms with acid free tissue paper and rehousing artifacts in an archival box. The purpose of this grant is to assist in the restoration of these unique historical artifacts.
This year’s Questers International grant was obtained by Questers Corps of Discovery #1504 with the support of Questers La Belle Vue #933, both in Bellevue Nebraska. In 2019 a Nebraska State Questers grant to La Belle Vue #933, then with the support of the Corps of Discovery #1504, served as a springboard for this project, enabling some of the restoration work to begin. On April 30, 2020 Corps of Discovery Chapter president Bob Zielinski presented a check for the grant amount to Ben Justman, Director of the Sarpy County Museum for this project
Once restored, the garments will be displayed at the museum and used to help teach about medical history. They will be placed on display with signage crediting THE QUESTERS The Corps of Discovery #1504 and La Belle Vue #933.
