Conserve O Gram July 1993 Number 1/1

Preservation Of Museum Collections

The preservation and continued use of a museum Preventive conservation is best implemented by collection and its associated data depend on a the development of a park-specific plan that park's long-term commitment to an ongoing identifies tasks, establishes schedules and costs, conservation program. The primary goal of and coordinates staff responsibilities in carrying museum object conservation is to preserve out an ongoing program for the care and whatever still exists of the object as nearly as maintenance of the museum collection. An possible in an unchanging state. In the National effective preventive conservation program will Park Service, this goal is achieved by the minimize the need for costly conservation ongoing activity of preventive conservation treatment. Refer to the NPS Museum supplemented, when necessary, by conservation Handbook, Part I (Rev 9/90), Chapter 3, for a treatment. detailed discussion of preventive conservation.

Preventive Conservation Conservation Treatment

Preventive conservation emphasizes non­ Conservation treatment is the interventive, interventive actions to prevent damage to and hands-on work of preserving the physical minimize deterioration of a museum object. and/or the aesthetic condition of a museum Such actions include: object. The two broad categories of interventive treatments are as follows: • Monitoring and recording levels of environmental agents (e.g., light, relative • Stabilization is a treatment action that is taken humidity, temperature, and air pollution) to increase the stability or durability of an object when preventive conservation measures • Inspecting and recording the condition of fail to decrease the rate of deterioration to an objects acceptable level, or when an object has deteriorated to the point where it is in danger • Controlling environmental agents of being completely lost.

• Establishing an Integrated Pest Management • Restoration is a treatment action that is taken (IPM) program in all spaces housing museum in an attempt to bring an object as close as collections possible to its original appearance, or to its appearance at a particular time period, by • Practicing proper handling, storage, exhibit, removing accretions and subsequent additions, housekeeping, and packing and shipping and/or by replacing missing elements. techniques Interventive treatments must be fully documented • Incorporating needed information and and performed according to the Code of Ethics procedures regarding the museum collection and the Standards of Practice of the American in emergency management plans Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. According to professional ethics and National Park Service Conserve O Gram 1/1

NPS Management Policies (Dec 88), any Most conservators specialize in specific classes restoration treatment must be the minimum of materials (e.g., paintings, furniture, paper, necessary, be fully documented, and be textiles, metals, ceramics and glass, conducted without fraudulent intent. Refer to photographs, archeological or ethnographic the NPS Museum Handbook, Part I (Rev 9/90), objects, or natural history specimens). The roles Chapter 8, for detailed guidance on conservation of the curator and the conservator in preserving treatment. museum collections are illustrated in the chart on page 3 of this Conserve O Gram. Responsibility

Conservation of museum objects is a shared role Reference between the curator and the conservator. Mutual understanding and respect for each other's role Ward, Phillip R. The Nature of Conservation, A and responsibilities to the collection are Race AgainstTime. Santa Monica, CA: The important. The curator is skilled in the J. Paul Getty Institute, 1986. management, preservation, and use of the museum collection. Often, the curator is a discipline or material culture specialist (e.g., archeology, history, biology, fine arts, Civil Anthony M. Knapp War weapons, 19th-century furniture). The Staff Curator conservator is skilled in the theoretical and Curatorial Services Division practical aspects of preventive conservation and National Park Service of performing examination and conservation Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 treatments of museum objects. Revised 1993.

The Conserve O Gram series is published as a reference on The series is distributed to all NPS units and is available to non-NPS collections management and curatorial issues. Mention of a product, institutions and interested individuals by subscription through the a manufacturer, or a supplier by name in this publication does not Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, constitute an endorsement of that product or supplier by the National Washington, D.C. 20402, FAX (202) 512-2233. For further Park Service. Sources named are not all inclusive. It is suggested information and guidance concerning any of the topics or procedures that readers also seek alternative product and vendor information in addressed in the series, contact the National Park Service, Curatorial order to assess the full range of available supplies and equipment. Services Division, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, (304) 535-6410. 2 Preservation of Museum Collections Conserve O Gram 1/1 National, Park Service

Curator and Conservator Roles in Preserving Museum Collections1

Preventive Conservation

Curator Conservator • Monitors and assesses the condition of • Assesses the condition of objects; objects conducts Collection Condition Surveys2 • Monitors and evaluates the museum • Alerts staff to signs and causes environment of deterioration • Practices proper methods and techniques • Provides technical guidance on museum for storing, exhibiting, handling, environment, storage, exhibits, packing, and shipping of objects handling, packing, and shipping • Develops and carries out an ongoing • Assists in development of housekeeping/ housekeeping/maintenance program for maintenance programs and in collection spaces preparation of emergency management plans • Prepares an emergency management plan for the museum collection Conservation Treatment Curator Conservator • Documents history, significance, value, • Examines and documents conditions and and proposed use of each object problems of objects to be treated • Prepares treatment proposals for • Develops and monitors contracts for curatorial review and approval conservation services • Performs suitable treatments • Assesses, in consultation with • Documents treatments performed conservator, the suitability of written • Recommends methods for the future treatment proposals and authorizes maintenance and care of treated objects treatments • Monitors the progress of treatment for each object • Ensures continuing care for treated objects

Notes: 1. The chart is based on Figure 3.1 in Chapter 3 of the NPS Museum Handbook, Part I (Rev 9/90). 2. Refer to the NPS Museum Handbook, Part I, Chapter 3, for guidance on Collection Condition Surveys.

Preservation of Museum Collections 3