The collection was previously housed in the basement of the old Communications building and was photographed and packed for storage in the Fall of  2007 by Jeanine Wine as the building was being closed down for demolition.

The African Art collection was primarily donated by:

• Faye Moyer
• Mr. and Mrs. Kessler - Liberian Art
• Claude Rupel
• Robert Zigler, Jr.

The basement of the Communications building housed the old College Museum and the African Art Collection.  Many objects had previously been carefully boxed and accessioned by Sarah Smith. Objects related to Manchester College and ethnographic artwork (the African Art Collection), that had not been boxed or thoroughly accessioned, were in a state of disorder, dust, and insect infestation. There had never been temperature and humidity controls in the space and the room reeked. This odor was probably intensified by the composition of the ethnographic pieces that were primarily made of wood, fiber, leather and metal.The College asked that the objects be immediately removed.  Dr. William Eberly took the objects in the Museum to the Manchester Center for History where they currently reside (2011) on long term loan.  A committee of three, Thelma Rohrer, David Waas and myself, Jeanine Wine, thought the African Art Collection to be of significance and the College agreed to store the collection until a later date when plans for a display might be generated.  It was late in the Fall and the temperature was cold and the building had no heat.  I  improvised a preparation area and photo space and shot as many objects as I could under great time restrictions.  The objects were brushed off and dusted and/or vacuumed, wrapped in tissue paper (until the tissue ran out), and stored in plastic garbage bags.  I used the attachment of a vacuum cleaner to suck air out of the bags while closing. David Friermood and his team of workers moved the objects to Holl Kintner.

Note:  When working with the African Art Collection in the future, be advised that the objects might have been treated with pesticides or chemicals prior to shipment to the United States or by previous owners.  Check for frass and insect activitiy.

Description prepared 1 September 2010 by Jeanine M. Wine and updated 21 April 2011.

With the renovation of Holl-Kintner the African Art Collection was moved to the North Manchester Center for History where it is currently being stored in the basement. J. Wine, updating on 24 April 2013.

The North Manchester Center for History eventually asked for the collection to be removed and it was brought back to the University campus where it has been stored on the second floor of the Neher Maintenance Center since about Spring of 2015.