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Idaho State Historical Society seeks authority to spend fundraising proceeds, funds Old Pen staffing and moves archives; committee briefed on America250 commem
Summary
The Idaho State Historical Society asked the committee to authorize spending of raised funds, described a multi‑year plan to consolidate archives and move three‑dimensional collections to a single facility, requested positions for the Old Idaho Penitentiary, and reported obligations related to an America250 commemoration package.
The Idaho State Historical Society presented its fiscal 2026 requests to the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee, including spending authority for fundraising receipts, new staff for the Old Idaho Penitentiary, planning and moving costs to consolidate off‑site collections into the Idaho State Archives facility, and reappropriation authority for America250 commemoration work.
Why it matters: The society safeguards and provides public access to state records, artifacts and museum/exhibit space. Committee members asked how fundraising, spending authority and archive consolidation will be managed and sought data about fundraising returns, Old Pen visitor and education outcomes, and the status of America250 expenditures.
Spending authority for fundraising and earlier appropriations: The society said the 2024 appropriation included authority to spend monies that had been raised. Director Janet Gallimore and foundation staff explained that state accounting requires the legislature to provide spending authority for significant grants or donated funds that carry audit and reporting requirements. The society said fundraising supports both ongoing operating activities (about $250,000 per year on education programs, per testimony) and cyclical capital or campaign work (for example, a $2,000,000 campaign for the Old Idaho Penitentiary and suffrage‑centennial activity described in prior years).
Old Idaho Penitentiary staffing and programs: The society requested ongoing and one‑time funding to staff and equip positions at the Old Idaho Penitentiary. The agency said it is implementing a business plan to expand educational programming and revenue generation at the site; earlier FY25 enhancements created educator and rental coordinator positions, and the FY26 request includes an educator and a store manager to help expand student programs and earned income. The society reported a target increase in student visits (from a baseline goal of 6,000 to a target of 12,000 students) and said it would provide follow‑up data to the committee on program and revenue impacts.
Archives consolidation and move: The society requested a $450,000 one‑time appropriation for FY26 to begin moving collections into a consolidated facility (the Idaho State Archives) and described the full project as multi‑year. Testimony described moving an estimated 30,000 boxes of records and about 50,000 three‑dimensional artifacts; the society said it will prioritize moving three‑dimensional collections first and archival boxes second, and that the work will require contracts with specialty movers and archival rehousing costs. The society said this consolidation responds to aging storage facilities and aims to improve preservation, security and public access.
America250 and artifact presentation: The society described a $1,650,000 general‑fund appropriation for America250 commemoration activities, reporting roughly $1.4 million of obligations against that appropriation to date. The society also brought two USS Idaho silver service artifacts to the hearing as examples of items the society curates and sometimes returns to the state when ships decommission; the society said it is developing accession and curatorial plans so items gifted to ships can be tracked and returned to Idaho museums when appropriate.
Committee questions and follow up: Senators asked for (1) fundraising totals and outcomes from the 2024 fundraising authority, (2) progress metrics for the Old Pen educator/rental positions and revenue results from new staff, and (3) details and timeline for the archive move. The director agreed to provide fund‑balance figures, fundraising receipts over the relevant period, performance data on Old Pen programming, and a more detailed multi‑year move schedule and cost estimate.
Ending: The society closed by thanking the committee and noting the state’s upcoming July 4, 2026 anniversary (noted in testimony as 528 days away) as the focal point for America250 planning; the committee made no formal vote during the presentation.
