This forum, held in June, 1987, in Chicago, Illinois, addressed four major themes: 1) The critical needs of America's cultural collections; 2) the achievements and limitations of recent efforts to save cultural objects, 3) the status of training, treatment, and research; and 4) the expansion of conservation and preservation resources. The remarks made by chairmen of the NEA, NEH, and IMS are reprinted, noting the resources of those funding agencies which have thus far been dedicated to conservation efforts. Various museum directors report on the problems and resources available to treat fine arts. The remarkable preservation efforts in Savannah are detailed with regard to architectural conservation; the disintegrating state of many libraries and archives is vividly described. Conservators describe the history and current state of art conservation training programs (Joyce Hill Stoner); the profession of art conservation in the United States (Terry Drayman Weisser); conservation facilities and regional laboratories (Ann Russell); and Luis Monreal reported on the state of scientific research. Summary remarks were provided by Arthur Beale, and another section is devoted to fundraising ideas for conservation. (Abstractor's note: This booklet provides an excellent state-of-the-field report for the year 1987, reflects funding crises, and presents much data for the history of conservation in the United States.) -- AATA