Safely Handling Collections
This article originally appeared in Exchange,
a newsletter published by the Wisconsin Historical
Society. (Volume 24, Number
4, July/August 1982) It is the fifth in a series of articles titled Conservation Corner.
The series features information about maintaining
an adequate environment for the storage and exhibition
of historical collections, employing proper collection
care techniques, and recording and cataloging historical
collections. This article was written by Tom McKay,
retired local history coordinator for the Wisconsin
Historical Society.
The people who work in a museum or historical society are those who must handle historic collections with the greatest frequency. It is a rewarding privilege to work with historic collections and an ethical responsibility to do so with caution. People who work in the museum as paid staff or volunteers assume a special obligation to safely handle the collections they are assigned to work with.
Many museums provide their workers with written rules that serve as guidelines for properly handling historic materials. No set of rules will cover every situation, but a list such as the following can be a useful reminder to those who work with collections.
- When handling objects, keep hands clean.
- Have white cotton gloves available for handling items such as metal objects that are particularly susceptible to damage from oils and acids from your hands. Do not use gloves to handle slippery objects such as china or fabric or paper materials that may easily catch and tear.
- Before you pick up an object, know where you are going to put it down.
- Before you pick up an object, examine it for separate or movable parts: lids, doors, cranks, etc.
- When picking up objects, support them from the bottom. Use two hands to ensure secure handling.
- Handle objects one at a time. Several small objects can be moved at one time on a utility cart. The cart's shelves should have sides. Securely glue felt to the shelf bottoms for a flat cushioning material.
- Do not push or pull large or heavy objects. Have enough people to carry a large object. If two people are required to safely carry an object, have a third to open doors, etc.
- Handle photographs by the edges and backs only.
- Put photographs and papers in protective, acid-free folders when not in immediate use.
- Do not work with historic tools, play with historic toys, etc. Historic collections are used only when that use is deemed essential to research or interpretation and after potential damage has been carefully considered.
- Do not allow smoking, food or beverages where museum
workers are handling collections.
- Do not keep collections in a gallery during exhibit construction.
- Do not decorate offices with collections. Historic materials belong on exhibit or in safe storage.
Because 13 is an unlucky number, add a 14th rule from which
all the rest grow. Before handling any historic materials,
pause and think.
Safe handling of collections is an essential part of
the "conservation
conscience" that every historical society and museum must develop.
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