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Making a House a Museum: Optimizing a Sustainable

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Making a House a Museum: Optimizing a Sustainable MAKING A HOUSE A MUSEUM: OPTIMIZING A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE THEORY OF PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE BIDWELL MANSION STATE HISTORIC PARK, CHICO, CALIFORNIA ____________ A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, Chico ____________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Anthropology Museum Studies Option ____________ by Melissa Chacon de la Cruz Fall 2015 MAKING A HOUSE A MUSEUM: OPTIMIZING A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE THEORY OF PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE BIDWELL MANSION STATE HISTORIC PARK, CHICO, CALIFORNIA A Thesis by Melissa Chacon de la Cruz Fall 2015 APPROVED BY THE INTERIM DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES: _________________________________ Sharon Barrios, Ph.D. APPROVED BY THE GRADUATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: ______________________________ _________________________________ Guy Q. King, Ph.D. Georgia L. Fox, Ph.D., Chair Graduate Coordinator _________________________________ Antoinette Martinez, Ph.D. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My graduate studies journey began in 2009, after graduating from the University of South Florida, when I by chance found an archaeological field school being offered in the middle of the Caribbean. The field school was hosted by California State University, Chico, but was fortunately open to everyone. Attending the field school gave me the opportunity to not only find what career path I was meant to follow, but also led me to develop a relationship that would eventually grow into the most influential mentorship I ever could have hoped for. This thesis would not have been possible without the guidance, encouragement, and knowledge of Dr. Georgia Fox. I would not be where I am today without all you have done for me. Thank you, in every way possible. Thanks also needs to be given to Dr. Antoinette Martinez, for sitting on my thesis committee and providing me with second and third opinions each time we discussed my thoughts and ideas. Her support in my project and work was reassuring and inspiring. I was lucky to not only have had an outstanding thesis committee, but an incredible support team that helped keep me balanced, too. Without the advice and reassurance from Adrienne Scott and Heather McCafferty, I am sure I would have lost my mind a few times in the midst of how crazy life and school work could get. I learned so much from them, and will be forever grateful for every single time they reminded me of what I was capable of. iii I need to extend a very special thank you to the staff of the Bidwell Mansion. My research could not have been completed without the permission and generosity of Denise Rist, Raeanne Bossarte, Nancy Arnold, and Maria Lozano. The experience I had working with you all was invaluable. I hope this thesis is as helpful to you as you all were to me. Finally, I would like to thank my mom and dad for always believing in me, supporting my dreams and aspirations, and going above and beyond to help me however they could. Thank you to my husband for working as hard as he did, so that I could completely devote myself to finishing my education. This process has been long and extensive, and the patience and love from my family was instrumental to its completion. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................... iii List of Tables.............................................................................................................. vii List of Figures............................................................................................................. ix Abstract....................................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER I. Introduction.............................................................................................. 1 Thesis Overview........................................................................... 7 II. Literature Review..................................................................................... 9 Theoretical Perspective ................................................................ 9 Preventative Conservation............................................................ 26 Preventative Conservation: Theory and Practice ......................... 31 Preventive Conservation in Action: Museum Collections Management.......................................................................... 35 Agents of Deterioration ................................................................ 39 Historic House Museum Housekeeping ....................................... 68 Caring for Historic Houses........................................................... 73 Summary....................................................................................... 76 III. The Study Site: Bidwell Mansion............................................................. 77 John Bidwell................................................................................. 77 Annie Bidwell............................................................................... 85 The Bidwell Mansion ................................................................... 88 Architectural Changes to the Bidwell Mansion............................ 101 Threat of Closure.......................................................................... 106 Summary....................................................................................... 109 v CHAPTER PAGE IV. Methodology............................................................................................. 111 The Park Closure Inventory.......................................................... 112 Arranging to Work at the Bidwell Mansion................................. 114 Conducting Research.................................................................... 116 Forming Relationships.................................................................. 121 Housekeeping Schedules.............................................................. 122 Summary....................................................................................... 125 V. Data, Analysis, and Interpretation............................................................ 126 Data Collected from the Data Loggers......................................... 126 Temperature and Relative Humidity, February 2013................... 136 Temperature and Relative Humidity, March 2013....................... 140 Temperature and Relative Humidity, April 2013......................... 144 Light Meter Readings................................................................... 148 Insect Monitoring with Sticky Traps............................................ 170 Utilizing the Ultraviolet Lamp ..................................................... 172 Summary....................................................................................... 174 VI. Thoughts for Bidwell Mansion: Some Guidelines for Historic House Collections Care .............................................................. 175 Preventive Conservation............................................................... 175 Approaching Housekeeping Schedules ........................................ 176 Preventive Conservation and Light Damage................................ 179 Preventive Conservation and Temperature and Relative Humidity Control .................................................................. 182 Preventive Conservation and IPM................................................ 186 Limitations to the Study ............................................................... 188 Conclusion.................................................................................... 190 References Cited......................................................................................................... 193 Appendices A. California Department of Parks and Recreation Letters of Permission............................................................................................ 207 B. Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park Light Readings.............................. 215 vi LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. TWPI Values for Chemical Decay ........................................................... 130 2. Mechanical Damage Values Based on Dimensional Change................... 132 3. Mold Risk Factor Values.......................................................................... 133 4. Metal Corrosion Risk Values ................................................................... 133 5. Bidwell Mansion Library February 2013 Table of Deterioration Risks ................................................................................................... 138 6. Bidwell Mansion Bidwell’s Bedroom February 2013 Table of Deterioration Risks............................................................................. 140 7. Bidwell Mansion Textile Room February 2013 Table of Deterioration Risks............................................................................. 140 8. Bidwell Mansion Library March 2013 Table of Deterioration Risks ...... 143 9. Bidwell Mansion Bidwell’s Bedroom March 2013 Table of Deterioration Risks............................................................................. 143 10. Bidwell Mansion Textile Room March 2013 Table of Deterioration Risks............................................................................. 143 11. Bidwell Mansion Library April 2013 Table of Deterioration Risks ........ 145 12. Bidwell Mansion Bidwell’s Bedroom April 2013 Table of
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