Clients and Markets

PRA has provided services to a wide range of clients in both the public and private sector. The following is a summary of some of our clients and markets we serve, but we are always excited about the opportunity to work with new people on new and interesting projects.

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Museums, Repositories, and Historical Societies

Paragon Research Associates (PRA) aids museums, repositories, and historical societies by providing extra professional assistance to help you manage your collections more effectively. PRA has experience with diverse collections: ethnographic, archaeological, photographic, archival, and historical.

For organizations that are planning to remodel an existing space or are considering construction of an entirely new faculty, PRA can conduct a collections assessment and prepare a facility plan based on your particular storage, research, and exhibit requirements. If you require help in establishing these requirements, or need help setting adequate policies for accessioning, deaccessioning, or loaning artifacts, PRA can prepare a specific collections management plan based on your goals and objectives. If your facility is meeting your current needs but you are concerned about your compliance with NAGPRA or 36 CFR Part 79, we can help you complete the necessary inventories and prepare the required documentation.

PRA can also work with your organization to develop a specific focus to your collections based on your current or planned future facility. We will work with your staff, museum board, benefactors, or other stake holders to facilitate the decision making process regarding potential future acquisitions and deaccessioning.

Colleges and Universities

Most Colleges and Universities either own or store diverse collections. While many institutions have affiliated museums and/or repositories staffed with professional curators and conservators, many do not. Even at schools with complete facilities, many collections are not completely curated and may be housed in inadequate semi-permanent storage. This takes up valuable space and could put your institution at risk for obtaining federal funds if you are not fully in compliance with federal laws, particularly NAGPRA and 36 CFR Part 79. PRA can complete the required inventories and assessments quickly and efficiently and will provide you with the documentation you need to meet your institution's obligations under federal law. If your institution is considering developing a facility for a repository, PRA staff can help you with facilities planning and assessments to insure you can meet your region's need for high quality storage, and we can help you develop adequate rules and policies to insure your facility meets all federal standards.

Private Collectors

PRA is interested in assisting private collectors who are considering donating all or part of their collections to a historical society, local heritage museum, natural history museum, college or university, or other non-profit institution. PRA can provide expert professional assistance to insure that your collection is properly cataloged and curated before the transfer. This will both insure that your gift can be properly valued and appreciated and that you are not placing a burden on the organization you intend to benefit. We can work with you and the receiving institution to develop agreements and complete the proper providence documents to insure that your legacy continues as you had planned and the collection is not lost, diluted, or subject to future claims. If you have a very diverse collection or estate or have a very specialized interest and are unsure what organization or organizations may be best to receive your gift, we can help you research and evaluate potential benefactors.

Even if you are not currently considering donation, PRA can provide you with professional assistance to insure that your collection is properly curated and that your storage methods and facilities are suited for the specific materials you are collecting. You have worked hard on developing your collection. A professionally curated and cataloged collection is likely to be easier to appraise and may have a higher value.

Because of ethical and legal concerns, PRA cannot work with private collectors of antiquities or cultural material that do not hold, and can provide, clear legal title or providence information for their artifacts. PRA does not authenticate, appraise, or value artifacts or collections.

CRM Consultants and Organizations

Excavation projects can be the best part of being an archeologist. Forming hypotheses, gathering data to test your theories, and the potential of new discoveries on a daily basis are some of the most exciting things about working in the field. PRA can free you to focus on your field work by providing collections management assistance before, during, and after the excavation process. PRA can assist you with the smooth transfer of collections from the field to the repository. PRA can provide collections management assistance at the start of a project, during busy periods, or we can even run your field laboratory giving you the extra flexibility to quickly transition your staff between projects. The added help we provides allows Archaeological and Historical Services to properly implement the repository’s collections management plan while keeping you and your staff working in the field.

Curious about fishbone assemblages from other collections? Want to test a new theory on an older assemblage? PRA can also assist you by working on specific research projects within local museums by facilitating sample selections and research requests.

Federal Agencies and Tribes

PRA has worked extensively with Federal Agencies and Tribes. Our staff help agencies with limited staff resources identify and managed their obligations under the various cultural resources and collections management regulations. PRA can research the status of collections owned or managed by your agency and we are expert at helping agencies identify and assess collections that they may be legally responsible for, but are not currently housed at the agencies repository. We are expert in analyzing vast amounts of historical data and information about various excavations and artifacts, and compiling this information into easy-to-use databases to help resource managers track and manage their collections.

A/E Firms and Environmental Consultants

PRA has conducted field surveys and cultural resource literature reviews in support of many types of public and private sector projects. We work to help A/E firms and Environmental Consultants serve their clients better by providing advice and assistance in order to negotiate the requirements of federal, state, and local historical and cultural preservation regulations. We are experienced preparing NEPA/SEPA documentation and conducting field surveys and research as required to meet Section 106 consultation requirements. PRA has well established relationships with many federal, state, tribal, and local agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest.

PRA can also help you meet your Washington State MBE/WBE participation goals and federal DBE mandates.
Click here to go to OMWBE Profile for Paragon Research Associates and view our state and federal certification numbers.

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