By Shelley Walker-Harmon, LCHS Intern, University of Idaho History undergraduate
Most people have heard of the Smithsonian, a monolith among museums, holding thousands upon thousands of artifacts and collections. While the Smithsonian is a household name, it is likely not a part of the average person’s daily life. On the other hand, small historical societies and museums run by volunteers are far more common. Even if they seem to lack the celebrity status of larger institutions, they are vital to the cultural preservation of local histories. The artifacts, art, and records that they house represent more than just old stuff, they are the very fabric of our shared story. So, if you find yourself volunteering at a small museum, or for your local historical society, the tasks at hand may seem both daunting and at the same time, undervalued. Don’t lose heart! If you wonder why you should care about cultural preservation, you don’t have to look much further than people and places you love. If you feel at a loss for ways to contribute, read on!
Cultural preservation is not only relegated to museums and special collections, it also starts at home. If your great grandfather’s dress blues are left unattended and moth-eaten, they will disintegrate before they can carry on his story within your family, or in the broader community. It is vital to learn how to care for art, artifacts, works on paper, and textiles that tell a bigger story so that one day, someone else can benefit from them. This is much less scary than it sounds. Virtually anyone can contribute to preserving these treasures for future generations. A few- actually 10 steps - will get you headed down the right path.
Step One- Know Your Role
Before jumping into that stamp collection, box of quilts, or restoring the oil painting of aunt so and so, get your head in the right space. You are now a bastion of cultural stewardship. From organizing the correspondence of your county’s founders to storing family heirlooms, each task should be taken seriously. Museums, as well as storage closets, are more than object repositories; they are protectors of history. Recognize that each artifact represents a real and tangible connection to the past and a story that deserves preservation for its cultural and historical significance.
Step Two- Make Haste Slowly
Your hands are often your most precise tools. The topic of glove use has become debated over the last several years, and surprisingly, many institutions have done away with requiring gloves when handling works on paper, or fragile items. This is due to the increased possibility of damage through reduced sensory perception or loss of haptic response. Always keep your hands clean and dry and avoid lotions or creams while working with artifacts. If you are working with items that are not fragile, powder free nitrile gloves are good to have on hand. If you are working with a collection at a museum or historical society, be sure to follow the standard operating procedures there. Finally, make haste slowly- don’t rush, you are more likely to drop or damage something if you are in a hurry.
Step Three- Think Like a Chef
I often watch Gordon Ramsay lose his cool over a messy workstation during a cooking competition. In Jurassic Park, the nefarious hacker Dennis Nedry is scorned for his cluttered desk. “Look at this workstation” is Samuel L. Jackson’s response… The workspace that you use while handling artifacts should be clutter free, snack free, and safe. It should not be towering with stacked items, surrounded by drinks, or covered with grime. Maintain a work surface that is archival, lined with acid free paper, or at the very least, clean and dry. Just like you would keep your kitchen organized to make a special meal for a guest, you should have all your materials at hand, clean, orderly, and have room to work.
Step Four- Remember-Not All Storage is Equal
Storage is critical to long-term artifact preservation. It will not do to pack your artifacts into Rubbermaid tubs, or alternatively, leave them uncontained. Once you have determined which items require storage, choose the correct container or environment. Line shelves with acid-free materials and use unbuffered acid-free tissue paper for wrapping. For textiles, choose archival boxes or acid-free tubes for rolling. Improper storage can lead to structural damage over time—so invest in quality solutions where possible. If you are in a real pinch, here is a helpful site that defines archival materials. This may help you to determine the best storage option, even as a stop-gap measure.
Step Five- Beware of Silent Threats
Light, temperature, and humidity are silent but significant threats to artifacts. UV-filtering film can be purchased inexpensively at almost every hardware store, and effectively limits UV exposure and heat from sunlight in older windows. If UV film cannot be used on your windows, consider light blocking curtains for your workspace. If you are outfitting a storage facility, consider rooms without windows, or cover them completely. Another important consideration is to rotate displayed items frequently to prevent overexposure. Maintain a stable environment with temperatures between 65-75°F and relative humidity of 45-55%. Digital Hygrometers (humidity gauges) are available for under $10 and often have a thermometer built in as well. Taking precautions against these three elements will prolong the life of your collection, public or private.
Step Six- Catalog It!
A well-maintained catalog is a museum’s roadmap. Knowing what you have is priceless. In the public sector, assign each artifact a unique accession number, document its condition, origin, and note its significance. There are many programs and applications that can help with this process, such as CatalogIt. If you are working on family inventory, a simple notebook could do the trick. Just keep track of what you have, where it is stored, and the condition it is in. Scheduled inventory checks keep track of collections and condition. They also ensure that nothing is misplaced or forgotten. Accurate records preserve the stories and context that make artifacts meaningful.
Step Seven – Look it Up
For better or worse, we live in a digital age. Almost everything is online, if you know where to look. Access to resources shouldn’t limit preservation efforts. Free guides and how to videos exist on nearly every subject related to collections care. With so many accessible tools available online, individuals, small historical societies, and museums with modest funding can adopt best practices without straining their budgets.
Step Eight- Collections Care is not Static
Continuous learning is vital in any field, including collections care. Read up on industry standards, attend workshops, or connect with local experts to expand your knowledge. Get familiar with best practices- methods which are adaptable yet grounded in proven results. Keep up on ways to ensure that your artifacts, public or private, are receiving the care that they need. This is of particular importance if the environment of these objects is in transition.
Step Nine- Forge Community and Family Connections
Artifacts are more than objects—they are bridges to the past. Share their stories with your community through exhibits, educational programs, or online platforms. Highlight their cultural significance to inspire appreciation and collective responsibility for their preservation. If the collection you are working with is private, consider hosting a get together to showcase the history held within the artifacts in your care. Perhaps you feel that there is a lack of interest in the collection you are working with- dig around, find a way to connect the present with the past, get your family, your town involved! Collections are meant to be seen, to be interacted with- that is where their significance lies, in connecting people with each other through shared history.
Step Ten - Teamwork
Volunteer-based museums thrive on teamwork and shared commitment. By working together, volunteers can ensure that artifacts—no matter how small—are preserved for generations. Every effort, from proper handling to detailed cataloging, is an act of respect for the cultural heritage these objects represent. This step applies even within households, having a common understanding of how to treat things of significance will preserve them for the future.
By following these steps, even the smallest museum or home can play a powerful role in cultural preservation. Volunteers are the unsung heroes of history, safeguarding the legacies of communities and ensuring their stories remain alive. By embracing cultural preservation, we honor the past and protect it for the future, one artifact at a time.
Sources:
Caring for Your Collections: preserving and protecting your art and other collectibles
National Committee to Save America's Cultural Collections
CatalogIt
Ebay listing for Smithsonian Postcard circa 1910
Gaylord Archival - Guide to Collections care:
Home Museum – Archival Materials and Methods
Library and Archives Canada Blog – The Gloves Come Off!
Oregon Heritage - Simple Steps for Collections Care
Peachey Conservation – Blog post on cotton gloves
Photo by StockCake
University of Washington Libraries – Collections Care Toolkit
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