{"id":16742,"date":"2017-04-19T15:53:52","date_gmt":"2017-04-19T20:53:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.conservators-converse.org\/?p=16742"},"modified":"2017-04-19T15:53:52","modified_gmt":"2017-04-19T20:53:52","slug":"abstracts-for-stashc-flash-iv-storage-tips-session-may-29-2017-at-the-aic-annual-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resources.culturalheritage.org\/conservators-converse\/2017\/04\/19\/abstracts-for-stashc-flash-iv-storage-tips-session-may-29-2017-at-the-aic-annual-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Abstracts for STASHc Flash IV Storage Tips session – May 29, 2017 at the AIC Annual Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2017 STASH Flash storage tips session at the Chicago annual meeting will have three themes:\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Building on the conference theme Innovation in Conservation and Collection Care<\/strong><\/em>, the first group of presentations offer solutions that eliminate the need for treatment or complement an interventive treatment.<\/li>\n
  2. The second group of presentations are supports that that serve more than one purpose such as storage, transport, and\/or exhibition.<\/li>\n
  3. Group three presentations focus on supports that can be mass produced to deal with collection-wide storage issues\u00a0 as well as other novel ideas.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Presentations will be posted on the STASHc solutions pages after the meeting.<\/p>\n

    Group 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Presenter(s):<\/strong> Clara Deck
    \nAffiliation<\/strong>: The Henry Ford Museum
    \nCollection type<\/strong>: Edison Diamond Disc Records
    \nAbstract<\/strong>: THF counts among its wide-ranging collections a nearly complete run of the Edison Diamond Disc recordings, produced by Thomas A. Edison, Inc. from 1912 to 1929.\u00a0 Played with a diamond stylus, these records are \u00bc\u201d thick and made of a Bakelite-type plastic over a wood-pulp core. This collection is cataloged in over 6500 entries, which includes the 6000 discs. Most came directly to THF from the Edison factory in West Orange, NJ and are generally in excellent condition.\u00a0 However, they are housed in their original acidic, wood-pulp paper jackets, which have become brittle over time. Some of the jackets bear unique printed information.\u00a0 Handling closely-packed records in their original jackets causes damage. THF conservators worked with vendor Hollinger Metal-Edge to develop a custom-made preservation sleeve that will safely store the thicker-than-normal discs, as well as a \u201cjacket-sling\u201d to re-house the original record jacket. Some assembly is required.<\/p>\n

    Presenter(s)<\/strong>: Basia Nosek and Susan Russick
    \nAffiliation<\/strong>: Northwestern University Libraries
    \nCollection type<\/strong>: Glass Plate Negatives
    \nAbstract<\/strong>: Photographic materials on glass supports are prone to cracking, braking, and flaking emulsion. With large collections, treatment may not always be an option. For this reason, proper housing and implementation of preventive conservation methods is the only viable solution to prolong the longevity of the collections. While the National Archives\u2019 recommendation of housing negatives individually in paper sleeves sounds straightforward, non-standard sizes, broken plates, and the need to maintain association with original envelope enclosures or groupings can complicate the process. By filling-in the negative space of standard four-flap enclosures we were able to accommodate different sizes and broken glass plates. Additionally, this method allowed us to keep all of the collection materials in standard size boxes. Ties and dividers were used to help indicate association of subsets of objects, keep items in order, and distinguish original housing groups. Lining boxes with foam and using corrugated board spacers added additional protection.<\/p>\n

    Presenter(s):<\/strong> Emilie Duncan
    \nAffiliation: <\/strong>Graduate Fellow at Winterthur\/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation
    \nCollection type: <\/strong>library\/bound materials
    \nAbstract: <\/strong>The separation of book spines from books, whether through natural deterioration or through treatment intervention, is commonly encountered in collections containing bound materials. Oftentimes \u2013 especially if the spine is leather \u2013 the replacement of the spine on the book is impractical or unsafe, as it can cause significantly more damage through continued use. As a result, there is a need for a storage solution that allows separated spines to be stored with their books. This can be achieved by modifying the design for a clamshell box to add a compartment to hold the spine. The compartment is located at the spine of the book, and has a Vivak window, allowing the leather spine to be visible while the box is closed and shelved. Not only is the spine material protected from the physical strains of being reattached to the book or flattened for traditional storage methods, but it remains intellectually and visually connected to the book from which it has physically been separated.<\/p>\n

    Presenter(s)<\/strong>: Skyler Jenkins
    \nAffiliation<\/strong>: Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona
    \nCollection type<\/strong>: Ethnographic and Archaeological
    \nAbstract<\/strong>: The Arizona State Museum (ASM) basketry collection became an official project of the Save America\u2019s Treasures (SAT) program in 2011. Known as the Woven Wonders: Basketry Project<\/em>, this effort addressed the need for new environmentally controlled, secure, unified space for over 35,000 catalogued items. Treatment protocols have been developed, approved, executed, and refined with funding from two IMLS awards. ASM\u2019s five plus year long basketry project had many new treatment and storage techniques that evolved through collaborative treatment. Among these innovative ideas, an internal storage support for more flexible basketry material emerged. This allowed flexible baskets to be treated more easily, to be handled without damage, and to reduce the required space for storage. This session will explore the various types of internal supports created to be an alternative to unnecessarily large external supports, and to assist those who cannot expand their storage space.<\/p>\n

    Presenter(s)<\/strong>:\u00a0 Gretchen Anderson
    \nAffiliation<\/strong>:\u00a0 Carnegie Museum of Natural History
    \nCollection type<\/strong>: Saddles
    \nAbstract<\/strong>: Saddles are large and awkward to store.\u00a0 They are often set on shelves or placed on sawhorses that are padded out with polyethylene foam.\u00a0 Plastic sheeting is draped over them to protect them from dust and potential water drips.\u00a0 The sawhorses take up a large foot print in a crowded storage room, and the legs are a tripping hazard. The sawhorses get moved around, creating additional risks for bumping and dropping the saddle.\u00a0 This article describes a practical method to store saddles, improving support, maximizing space use, and generally protecting them in a cleaner and more efficient manner.\u00a0 This system is primarily for long term storage, but can be adapted for display or for transport. The basic mounting system currently being used at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History will be detailed.\u00a0 Refinements from the Science Museum of Minnesota will be described as well.<\/p>\n

    Group 2<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Presenter(s): <\/strong>Connie Stromberg and Lara Kaplan
    \nAffiliation: <\/strong>Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Contract Objects Conservators (for Inaugural Exhibitions). Stromberg Conservation, LLC and Lara Kaplan Objects Conservation, LLC
    \nCollection type: <\/strong>369th Hellfighters Gas Mask and Canister, Historical Artifact
    \nAbstract: <\/strong>This gas mask is part of the field equipment worn during WWI by a soldier in the 369th Infantry, an African-American regiment known as the Harlem Hellfighters. It consists of a canvas mask with glass eye pieces connected to a painted steel canister by a collapsible hose. The object was in very poor condition: the mask was extremely fragile with many tears; the hose had ripped loose from the mask, and was deteriorated, deformed, and splitting at the seams; and the canister was rusting and had lost about half of its paint. Slated to go on view in the inaugural exhibition of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, creative collaboration among conservators, mount makers, and curators was necessary to successfully treat and permanently support the mask for its safe display, transport, and storage.<\/p>\n

    Presenter(s)<\/strong>: Rebecca Beyth
    \nAffiliation<\/strong>: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
    \nCollection type<\/strong>: 3-D Object Collections
    \nAbstract<\/strong>: In 2016, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum built a new off-site collections and conservation center to house its collections. The relocation from a previous off-site facility was critical to the museum\u2019s preservation mission, and improved its storage, research and transportation capacity. Rehousing was necessary to safely transport many of the 3-D objects. An initial survey determined which 3-D objects required specialized housing. Staff used four common methods to house 3-D objects based on their material, size, shape and condition:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Secure 3-D object to a tray, which could be removed from the box.<\/li>\n
    2. Secure 3-D object directly into the box with ties.<\/li>\n
    3. Secure 3-D object in the box using a shaped bumper, which is held in place by the box lid.<\/li>\n
    4. Cavity pack 3-D object in the box.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Using these methods (with modifications as needed) the team successfully rehoused approximately two-thirds of the 3-D object collections, including all items classified as high-priority due to their material or condition.<\/p>\n

      Presenter(s)<\/strong>: Vasar\u0117 Rastonis
      \nAffiliation<\/strong>: Columbia University Libraries
      \nCollection type<\/strong>: oracle bone enclosures
      \nAbstract<\/strong>: Columbia University\u2019s C.V.Starr East Asian Library contains one hundred and twenty eight oracle bones. These are the library\u2019s oldest documents, some of which are dated as early as 1554 BCE. The bones had been stored in roughly two different manners; the first group of sixty three bones was enclosed in plexiglass sleeves with board inserts, and the second group of sixty five was housed in a variety of boxes and cardboard trays. In the Autumn of 2015 the storage methods were reviewed and revised with the assistance of Eugenie Milroy of A.M. Art Conservation. Upon consideration it was determined that the plexiglass enclosures of the first group were almost ideal and could be used with a few modifications and that the second group would be enclosed in a set of prefabricated boxes fitted with Volara\u00ae foam and Tyvek\u00ae. Although the two types of storage systems are quite different from one another, not only in their appearance but also in the amount of time needed to prepare them, they both achieve the desired goal of safely storing the oracle bone collection.<\/p>\n

      Presenter(s)<\/strong>: Annie Hall
      \nAffiliation<\/strong>: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
      \nCollection type<\/strong>: Product Design and Decorative Arts \u2013 smaller objects
      \nAbstract<\/strong>: Cooper Hewitt\u2019s recent mass digitization rapid capture project required the development of object support systems to safely and efficiently move over 30,000 objects from storage to the photographic stage and back to storage. A team of contract art handlers were hired by the mass digitization company and Cooper Hewitt staff were required to provide guidance and ensure handling protocols were in place. Systems for movement of object types were developed so the team could safely and efficiently move objects for each object category within the given time. A modular bin system with movable dividers was devised for smaller fragile objects such as glass and ceramics. Custom-sized cavities lined with Volara were constructed for each object and a previously designed object storage support system was modified to ensure objects were fully supported during the short trip to photography and back to storage.<\/p>\n

      Presenter(s):<\/strong>\u00a0 Jakki Godfrey, Lisa Bruno, Carol Lee Shen
      \nAffiliation:<\/strong>\u00a0 Brooklyn Museum
      \nCollection type:<\/strong> Ancient Egyptian Objects (but could be for any varied object collection)
      \nAbstract:\u00a0 <\/strong>From 2008-2012, 127 of the Brooklyn Museum\u2019s ancient Egyptian objects traveled on a 12-venue loan exhibition.\u00a0 To minimize handling, many objects were mounted to Medex boards or plinths for both transport and display. Boards and plinths were either coated in Zinsser\u00ae Shieldz\u00ae primer sealer, painted and padded out with polyethylene foam or covered with Marvelseal 360, padded out with polyethylene foam and\/or polyester batting and covered in fabric.\u00a0 Objects meant for vertical display included hanging hardware on the back of the transport\/display board. Plinths used to display large heavy objects were furnished with handling access to fork lift or gantry in place. Many objects held up well during the exhibition tour; however some very fragile objects such as the Museum\u2019s animal mummies suffered some damage. Methods for traveling these fragile objects has since been modified.<\/p>\n

      Group 3<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Presenter(s): <\/strong>Hildegard Heine and JP Brown
      \nAffiliation: <\/strong>The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
      \nCollection type: <\/strong>Housings for lightweight oversize organic objects
      \nAbstract<\/strong>: This presentation discusses a modular framing system that we adapted to make supports for fragile, oversize (and occasionally poisonous) organic objects from world cultures, especially oversize masks in the Pacific. Although the no \u2018one size fits all\u2019 approach is possible for these objects, we developed a housing design that can be customized to several different object geometries. The main construction material is lightweight, square-section aluminum structural framing tube. Polyethylene or Mylar sheet is stretched over the framing, providing a barrier to prevent loss of loose material and to mitigate against dust deposition, air currents, and damage during handling and transport. \u00a0The framing can also easily be modified to include bottom, top or side panels. A reversible flap sealed with a magnetic strip provides access for one side of the housing to allow for access. Handles attached to the framing permit easy transport of the entire structure. This modular framing system based on standard materials suits a wide range of object types and allows for flexibility in designing supports for specific object needs.<\/p>\n

      Presenter(s): <\/strong>Kate Wight Tyler
      \nAffiliation: <\/strong>Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
      \nCollection type: <\/strong>Modular Support System for Decorative Arts Objects on Compact Shelving
      \nAbstract<\/strong>: A reproducible storage system consisting of support components in standardized shapes and sizes was developed to respond to targeted collection-based needs at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. Primary stability issues were first identified and categorized and support components were designed and manufactured to:<\/p>\n