The Collections Management team of the Anthropology Department is charged with the care of every archaeological, ethnographic, and archival artifact within our domain – approximately 130,000 objects from Africa, Asia, Oceania, North and South America! Each one of these objects requires individual attention, but we can make a few generalizations regarding the proper care of particular types of materials. The ultimate goal is to stabilize the object, so that it is preserved for generations to come.

When an object first enters the museum, it is isolated so that we may observe its status to determine the best course of action before integrating it with the other objects in the collection. We look for evidence of pest infestation (insects or mold), structural weaknesses, parts at risk for loss or damage (flaking paint, corrosion, torn basketry, etc.), that is, any condition(s) which may worsen if not stabilized.

Once it has been decided that the object is stable, the concern moves to the materials that comprise the object. Organic and inorganic materials require different care, and some items are a composite of both types of materials. (Organic materials were once alive, for the most part. Examples are plant materials, fur, or any carbon-based materials. Inorganic materials tend to be glass, metal, and stone in our collections.) Almost all objects in our collections need to be protected from dust, pests, mold, UV light, and extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity. They should be stored together in a stable condition, so that they are not touching anything else.

Each object is unique due to its materials, use, treatment, and care history. This means that each object needs to be attended to in its own way, though there are certain general steps we can take to ensure the preservation of the collections. For one, we use only archival quality supplies when working with artifacts. Archival quality packing and storage supplies are acid-free and will not react with the objects or expose them to materials that will encourage deterioration. Many common packing supplies can speed up the deterioration of objects over long periods of time. For example, regular cardboard, newspaper, or tissue paper are acidic and can make some materials turn yellow or become brittle; polyurethane foam and PVC plastic also give off acids and other harmful components as they degrade over time. Thus, the most common tools of the trade and their primary uses are listed below:

acid-free tissue   pad and protect textiles, moccasins, etc.

blue board

   make custom sized boxes for storage
cotton thread   attach tags to textiles
cotton twill tape   in place of adhesive tape as ties, and to label textiles
gloves (cotton & nitrile)   prevents acids and dirt prints from contaminating objects in addition to protecting the wearer from contaminated objects
pencils   will not accidentally stain object, nor fade as quickly as ink
polyethylene bags   in place of plastic sheets/bags to protect objects
polyethylene foam   line drawers, shelves, mounts, and boxes for further protection
scissors   cut foam sheets, twill tape, etc.

In addition to these tools and supplies that are used on the artifacts, providing a safe and clean environment in the storeroom is necessary to ensure the safety of our objects. It is important to monitor humidity, light, and temperature levels, in addition to, of course, security.

    Potential problems:

  • Extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity can make some materials, such as wood, expand and contract, resulting in cracks
  • High temperature combined with high humidity and dust encourages insect pests.
  • High humidity levels can encourage mold growth.
  • Low humidity levels can make some materials, such as leather, dry and brittle.
  • High light levels can fade or discolor paper, baskets, textiles, and some painted objects, while simultaneously contributing to their decomposition.
  • Food and drink residue can attract unwanted pests, so neither are permitted in storerooms or any other object areas.

Controlling the climate and light levels in storage can go a long way toward preserving objects. These few, basic, preventive measures increase the longevity of our collections. That is our goal – to best preserve our artifacts for many, many years.

For additional resources and information regarding object conservation, go to AIC, The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.

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