Caring for Artifacts in Archival Repositories

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Justina Hood
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1 Caring for Artifacts in Archival Repositories Stephanie Antequino, Memorabilia Archivist Planet Hollywood Society of Florida Archivists Annual Meeting May 8, 2014

2 The Same, but Different Sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity Sensitive to light Handling can damage Acid-free, lignen-free materials

3 Use both hands Handling Do Always pick up from the most stable point of the object Carry one item at a time

4 Handling Don t Don t be a hero ask for help if you need it! Don t wear jewelry

5 Potential Hazards Arsenic used to preserve dry and wet specimens Spears and knives may be coated with poisons Grave goods can be colored with toxic minerals or pigments Assume that all firearms are loaded and all shells are live Medical, dental, or veterinary equipment may contain viable pathogens or toxic and/or controlled substances Weighted silks may contain arsenic or lead

6 Potential Hazards Art may include body fluids, sharp objects, and toxic pigments Lead can be found in sculptures, stained glass windows, food cans, and old bullets Unopened food cans may be contaminated with botulism Over 200 types of minerals are known or suspected to be poisonous or cancer causing After 1898, some objects were painted with radium to make them glow in the dark that can still be radioactive Health cures with RAD or RADI in the title may be radioactive

7 Nitrile Gloves Handling Supplies Disposable Provide more traction Prevent hazardous chemicals from getting onto skin Additional protection from oils transferring through porous cotton gloves Less likely to catch on rough surfaces

8 Moving Most damage occurs when objects are in motion Do not rush, and plan ahead Never backup Never move an object until you know where you are taking it Keep movement by hand to a minimum use carts when possible

9 Cleaning Never use tap water use distilled water if necessary Horse hair and hake brushes Vacuum if necessary use variable suction with screen protector Cotton swabs Micro fiber cloth NEVER use a feather duster!!!

10 Cleaning

CCI Notes 1/9 Water-based Polyurethane 2 coats Acid-free materials

11 Storage Help the object maintain its original shape as much as possible Avoid wood especially oak and cedar Cover with Marvelseal CCI Notes 1/9 Water-based Polyurethane 2 coats Acid-free materials DO NOT use PVC based materials DO NOT use bubble wrap for long-term storage

12 Repair/Conservation Ask a trained conservator

Textiles 68-72 F / 45-55% RH / 5 Footcandles or less Can be made of many different types of materials Buffered vs.

13 Textiles F / 45-55% RH / 5 Footcandles or less Can be made of many different types of materials Buffered vs. Unbuffered Tissue Buffered plant-based (cotton, linen) Unbuffered protein-based (silk, wool, leather), combination, and unknown

14 Pad folds Textiles Get the right size box! Polypropylene hangers Padded with polyester fiberfill or polyethylene rod Make sure okay to hang NEVER use wire hangers Remove from plastic bags

15 Textiles Make sure item is stable Knits, garments with lining, beads, sequins, or feathers, wool, silk, and quilts with stuffing require special care Vacuum with variable speed suction and screen protector Use horse hair or hake brush Distilled water and Orvus paste See CCI Notes 13/7, 13/9, & 13/14

Wood 68-72 F / 45-55% RH / 15-20 Footcandles Stable environment is best Protect furniture surfaces if in use Dust with soft brush or vacuum with soft brush attachment Avoid commercial

16 Wood F / 45-55% RH / Footcandles Stable environment is best Protect furniture surfaces if in use Dust with soft brush or vacuum with soft brush attachment Avoid commercial cleaners Tung oil and silicone age poorly If must use water to clean Use Orvus diluted in distilled water to 1% Cotton balls or cotton swabs Rinse with distilled water and cotton ball or sponge

Metal 68-72 F / 30-35% RH / 20 Footcandles ALWAYS wear

humidity Use silica desiccant in storage container Silver

17 Metal F / 30-35% RH / 20 Footcandles ALWAYS wear gloves Depending on type, very susceptible to damage from humidity Use silica desiccant in storage container Silver Wrap in acid-free tissue Store in silvercloth and/or sealed bag

18 Metal Never immerse in water Dry immediately Some commercial solvents okay for cleaning silver Birks Silver Polishing Cloth or Hagerty Glove Twinkle, Silvo

19 Paintings F / 45-55% RH / Footcandles 5 Footcandles for watercolors Always carry by vertical sides, never by top of frame or hanging wire Use soft brush or cotton swabs with distilled water to clean Do not clean if paint is flaking

20 Paintings Best stored hanging, especially if ornate frames Can store in bins Front to front and back to back

21 Ceramics & Glass F / 45-55% RH / 20 Footcandles Can be extremely brittle and fragile Always look for old repairs Do not pick up by handle or spout Remove lid if necessary when handling Do not store or display in a hot or sunny location

22 Ceramics & Glass Store on sturdy shelves or cupboards Line shelves with polyethylene foam If you must stack, use foam or fiberfill in between

23 Ceramics & Glass Never use spring-type plate hangers

24 Plastics Varies depending on type of plastic Earliest plastics very vulnerable to deterioration due to chemical additives Pollutants, gases, high visible and non-visible UV levels, and high or fluctuating temperatures accelerate deterioration Segregate plastics from other materials in well ventilated areas Create a microclimate Temperature below 68 F

25 Plastics DO Work in well-ventilated area Use nitrile gloves Change gloves after handling an object that is degrading Use acid free unbuffered tissue unless object is tacky Store in cool, dry, dark, and well ventilated environment Use adsorbents if necessary Store like plastics together Support with Ethafoam or Mylar Clean by dry wiping, brushing, or vacuuming Monitor regularly

26 Plastics DO NOT Use cotton gloves Use buffered tissue Akaline buffers can accelerate degradation Use cases made from wood or similar products Store in sealed bags, boxes, or tightly wrapped packaging Store with metals and organics Use solvents or water to clean Store degrading objects with those in good condition

27 Plastics Cellulose Nitrate (CN): s AKA Celluloid Store below 68 F 30%-40% RH Segregate and use gas adsorbents Cellulose Acetate (CA): s AKA Rayon Store below 68 F 30%-40% RH Segregate and use gas adsorbents Phenol Formaldehyde: s AKA Bakelite (before 1939) Store below 68 F 30%-50% RH

28 Plastics Polyvinylchloride (PVC): 1926-Present AKA Vinyl, Naugahyde, Duraleather Rigid PVC more stable Store below 68 F 30%-40% RH Store in non-adsorbent glass or polyester container Segregate and use oxygen adsorbents Polystyrene: 1929-Present AKA Styrofoam Store below 68 F 30%-50% RH

29 Plastics Polyethylene (PE): 1933-Present Store below 68 F 30%-50% RH Polyurethane (PU): 1937-Present AKA Polyurethane foam, Lycra, Spandex Store below 68 F 30%-40% RH Segregate and use oxygen adsorbents Polyamides: 1938-Present AKA Nylon Store below 68 F 60% RH

30 Practical Applications MPLP for collections care Know what requires more care vs.

31 Storage Practical Applications vs.

32 Practical Applications Supplies on a Budget Contact local sales representative for discounts Find things at online local stores when possible Make your own boxes, storage trays, mounts, and other containers

33 Practical Applications Uline Polyethylene Sheeting Ethafoam Blocks Nitrile Gloves Boxes Tissue Hangers Microfiber Cloths Polyethylene Sheeting Tyvek Polyethylene Bags Parchment Paper Oxygen Adsorbers Silica Desiccant Carts

34 Practical Applications Gaylord Steve Scicchitano Regional Sales Manager Amazon.com Variable Speed Vacuum Cleaner Silvercloth Silver Cleaner Home Depot Polyethylene Foam Rods

35 Practical Applications

36 Practical Applications

37 Diocese of St. Petersburg

38 Diocese of St. Petersburg Pieces are stable in displays Acid-free box stabilized with acid-free tissue or custom mount from ethafoam

39 Amelia Island Museum of History

Amelia Island Museum of History Wrap in tissue and store in box http://cool.conservation- us.

40 Amelia Island Museum of History Wrap in tissue and store in box us.org/byorg/abbey/an/an24/an24-2/an html Use book cradles when looking at the scrapbooks

41 Links NPS Conserve-O-Gram ons/conserveogram/cons_toc.html CCI Notes Connecting to Collections

Caring for your textiles. Presented by Donia Conn on 25 April Today s Agenda. Physical characteristics of fibers. Deterioration.

Caring for your textiles. Presented by Donia Conn on 25 April Today s Agenda. Physical characteristics of fibers. Deterioration. Caring for your textiles Presented by Donia Conn on 25 April 2017 Today s Agenda Physical characteristics of fibers Deterioration Cleaning Storage and display Physical Characteristics of Fibers Plant fibers