Conservation/Preservation

Cataloging, Storage & Maintenance

                                                    

Heirlooms, antiques, collectibles, keepsakes . . . all of them have different values, monetary as well as aesthetic. Our homes and our lives are filled with things. Some are more important then others. Some are more valued then others.
Once you have selected the artifacts to display in
Your Family Museum, which is a conservation project in itself, those placed in storage will be preserved, catalogued and maintained. Here is a guide for you to become acquainted with archival terms to assist you in this endeavor.
        

►Conservation protects, manages the cares of valued artifacts,
    collections, heirlooms, etc.

►Preservation keeps precious items from change, loss or damage.

►Cataloging is making a complete list of all the items displayed
    and in storage, arranged in alphabetical or other systematic order.
    Account ledgers are efficient books in which to log, make
    entries, document, classify, list, index, categorize, sort and divide
    inventory. Keep this information (in hard copy placed in a
    fireproof box and on a computer disc) for the very intent and
    reason for cataloging. By implementing a filing system, it will
    help you create your archive collection.

►Archive is a collection of historical
    documents or records. We all have archives
    of one sort or another: notebooks,
    scrapbooks, family albums, journals, diaries,
    or account books. These bits and pieces of
    recorded dates, places and events are
    extremely helpful as you assemble your
    displays.

You may even become an Archivist – one who keeps records that have enduring value as reliable memories of your family’s past, which will provide an acute understanding of your family’s history. When you do this, you are establishing provenance.

►Provenance is the history & ownership of the item(s) origination.
►Restoration is the repair & renovation to keep all in a good condition.
 

►Storage is the space available for saving 
    and keeping family treasurers. There are
    many types of storage units, some

    specific to size and shape of the item:
    map chests, filing cabinets & archival acid-free boxes for storing valuable photographs, artwork, or documents and precious items such as maps, prints & newspapers.

A plethora of websites will help you to investigate, compare and learn about the many ways to protect your property. You need to consider the space your unit(s) will require, temperature, lighting, accessibility and safety.

      

Once Your Family Museum is complete, your archives created and the preservation, storage and maintenance in place, you can take pride in a job well done and take comfort in the knowledge that your family’s keepsakes, collections, antiques, and other precious items are no longer obscure and forgotten. Your family museum(s) will be a continuous record of past events, present acquisitions, and sets in motion the preservation of future experiences.

 



Be your own curator: Part Two

"If you don't recount your family history, it will be lost.

Honor your own stories and tell them, too.

The tales may not seem very important,

but they are what binds families and

makes each of us who we are."

                                   Madeleine L'Engle, American Writer

 

Your archives may not have been excavated from sites in Egypt, but rather from the basement, garage, closet, shed or storage unit. These are no less places of wonder in their own right. A museum makes no excuses for saving things. Now we can be our own museum curator, selecting a place/places in our homes, even places of business, where we maintain an orderly, welcoming, and beautiful space filled with a treasure trove of heirlooms, artifacts and achievements for all to enjoy today, tomorrow and generations from now.  
 

3. Art Collections: thought provoking memories    
    * Set aside time to go through your
       family’s art works
    * Assess the wall and counter space in
       your museum area
    * Photograph digitally or create a special
       album to display and record the
       art objects rendered to storage, or if you
       choose, to give away or sell
    * Find another home for a treasure you love. Offer it to a relative
       or friend.

4. When the artwork is that of a child’s, be circumspect:
  * Save the best and put the others in a
     labeled folder to file.
  * Create an online photo album or notebook
     album with clear pocket sleeves to display,
     protect & save artwork.
  * If the child's precious artwork is not on
     display in the museum, ensure them that
   their art is kept safe in the archives.

    

5. Photos and photo albums: a daunting task
    * Sort through, keeping the best shots, dispose
       ruined or duplicate photos
    * Replace albums if they are in poor condition
    * Create new ones with
       archival materials
    * Copy and save digitally. The satisfaction
       you receive from preserving.    
       those moments in time will be
       exhilarating. 
   * Frame and place pertinent photos in the museum to enhance the history of the displayed object.

6. Oral history: Stories, conversations, music, Living History   

* voices on cassette tapes

* images and voices on film

* keep a solid format

   backup for oral

   histories for all to

   read.

You never know in this world of ever changing formats what might come in handy. Archivists are strong believers in 'better safe than sorry.'

7. The written Word:
   The need for transcription of letters, diaries,

    manuscripts, documents:

* written longhand or on early typewriters, 
   sometimes they are hard to read. There's a wealth
   of wonderful stories that should be saved & shared,
   and if you do not personally pour over these 
   documents and transcribe/or translate what you can,
 or you will never see their words again.

8. Archives represent your heritage, culture & diversity:
   In an archive, one can re-live the past and see it in a
   new light. Archives are also places where your
   history is ripe for rediscovery. Wake up to your
   history. It will transform your family's life.   

If you have any questions concerning the topics covered here, please comment. I will answer them the best I can. Thank you.