Weaving Part I

Below is a table I created to organize some of my data. I identified several dangers to collections, and how each may endanger different materials.



I am also charting changes in temperature and humidity in my apartment. I had a busy week last week, and will be tracking all of this week. I am recording morning and evening temperature and humidity levels (around 9am and 9pm) to chart fluctuation. I will share this data as it becomes available.


Additionally, I have finished reviewing the articles/sources that I found and begun to compare them. There is a lot of crossover data. I also continue to monitor practices discussed at the US Militaria Forum. New information includes collectors attempting to remove wrinkles from old uniforms by using a small steamer and carefully working the wrinkles out one-by-one--ironing is not recommended due to the high and uncontrollable heat. Also, storage of anything in plastic bags (particularly space saver vacuum plastic bags) is not recommended. Plastic bags are unstable chemically and do not allow air to circulate and the items to "breathe." Interesting!

Wiggling and starting to Weave

What do you do with the information you found?
I have useful information from several sources at this point, but it's been a few days since I have been able to sit down and review it. I am beginning to evaluate content, and I have found that much of it overlaps and aligns with my assumptions and previous knowledge. I am going to map out the general key points before going into specifics for my collection. I am sifting through the stacks of articles and re-reading my highlighted points.

I have taken the first step of putting the concepts I am learning into practice. I purchased a thermometer and humidity gauge from Ace Hardware ($7) and set it up on top of the book case holding most of my collection in my living room. I am measuring the average climate, and I would also like to see the impact of cooking dinner on the overall climate of my apartment (the kitchen and living room are separated by a counter).

Before cooking (4:30pm) Temp: 68F Humidity: 28%
After cooking (5:30pm) Temp: 68F Humidity: 32%

It appears that the steam from the rice and stir fry did impact the overall humidity but not temperature in the apartment. The former is to be expected, but I am slightly surprised by the latter. As the parameters set by the Smithsonian article recommend a temperature of 70+/-4 and a humidity of 45+/-8% (Mecklenburg & Tumosa, 2003), I am within the temperature range and on the low side of humidity. I can control the temperature in the apartment with a thermostat with a four degree swing, but am not sure about humidity control.

I have also begun to identify key terms in my research. I was greatly assisted by the National Park Service article (Knapp, 1993) in defining exactly what I am aiming to do. I have been interchangeably using the terms "preservation" and "conservation" to describe my process, but Knapp outlines preventative conservation and conservation treatment processes. Preventative conservation emphasizes monitoring condition and climate, storage, and collecting information; conservation treatment includes stabilization and restoration. I am exploring preventative conservation in my inquiry project.

How do you evaluate content? What tools did you use for evaluation?
The best evaluation of content at this point begins with an open mind, and is based on logic and the number of times that concepts are repeated in varied works. For instance, several of these articles mention climate control as an important step--knowing that moisture can rust metal and warp/mildew paper, so it is logical that this is an indispensable concept. Additionally, I am using sources that are written by authorities in the field. National museums and organizations are certainly more reliable sources than members on online forums. I am checking sources for authority and citations.

I am considering charting the temperature and humidity over the next week to see how these ranges fluctuate.

Wrangling

It is about time to list the sources that I have collected so far, rather than present an assortment of links. While I am not entirely sure how the formatting works in this blog, here are the citations that I have wrangled together for this project:

Care of historic costume and textiles. (2010). Retrieved Feb. 7, 2010 from Kent State University Museum website: http://dept.kent.edu/museum/staff/care.html.

Knapp, A. (1993). Preservation of museum collections. Conserve O Gram. Retrieved Feb. 6, 2010 from National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/conserveogram/01-01.pdf.

Mecklenburg, M. & Tumosa, C. (2003). Resolving the conflict between building preservation and the proper temperature and relative humidity requirements of collections [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved Feb. 10, 2010 from Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute website: http://www.si.edu/mci/downloads/reports/resolvingconflict.pdf.

Preservation of artifacts. (2010). Retrieved Feb. 6, 2010 from National World War II Museum website: http://www.nationalww2museum.org/exhibitions/preservation-of-artifacts.html.

Restoration ethics: A survey of museum curators. (2010). Retrieved Feb. 11, 2010 from Russian Mosin Nagant website: http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/restoring.html.

Webbing Part III

The webbing part of this project is time-consuming, but I am riveted on my subject so I am enjoying it. I noticed that one of the Webbing questions asks if I am frustrated yet. I am not. I wish I had more time to devote solely to this task of expanding, enriching and organizing my knowledge, but I have work and another class to also tend to. I usually prioritize those tasks first so I leave the most fun one (this project) for last. Frankly, it's something I look forward to.

I took a step forward in the US= Militaria Forum resource yesterday and posted in the Preservation section inquiring if any of the collectors could direct me toward articles and sources. I received a great suggestion to try the Smithsonian website. I spent part of my afternoon on there, and, while there are a few articles, they are specific and concern topics that are not relative to my topic (albeit interesting, such as Mayan art and antique furniture). I did find a couple long PowerPoints on climate control in a museum area. There are a lot of graphs, charts and other visual aids that reveal the scientific side to preserving history. One particular presentation provided me very good information on ideal temperature and humidity levels for a museum or storage area. 70F +/- 4F is the ideal temperature range, and relative humidity is recommended to be at 45 +/-8%. Good to know!

I also continued with Google searching. I recalled an website I visited last semester on the topic of collecting Mosin Nagant rifles (Russian/Soviet origin, used 1891-post WWII). These old bolt-action rifles are common and collectible; I purchased my two in 2006 for ~$60 ea.; the 91/30 is dated 1914 and my m38 is from 1942. I was able to located this website again and found that there is a great section on general firearms/collection preservation. It includes letters/advice from many British museum curators on conservation and ethics of the field. I am still reading it, and it then applies the firearms field to a broader range of antiquities.

I am feeling that with these articles, online sources, and forum resources I have a pretty good grasp on the information available and the variance of practices and ethics. With my own collection at hand, I also have the opportunity for practical application here at my fingertips. While I need to wrap up for now and head to the gym, I am going to frame a couple goals for heading on to the Wiggling section:

*Define my philosophy on preservation/conservation.

*Differentiate between preservation/conservation/restoration and assess which best fits my needs and philosophy

*Critically evaluate the articles and resources I have printed here

*Begin thinking about the product that I will develop with this information

Webbing Part II

I am continuing my search for information. As I read through the militaria forums, I constantly find myself reading posts and marveling at others' collections as well as noting the many differences in how collectors stow and display their items. Many of them have better collections than many museums I have been to! The best part about reading on the forums is that the information is 1.) up to date, 2.) collaborations--views/methods are presented, tested, analyzed, tested, and replicated for reputable and measurable results, and 3.) the topic is military artifacts, not generally antiques or collectibles that can encompass anything from pocket watches to roll-top desks. While most collectors agree on a set of basic commandments for preservation, artifacts come in all stages of disintegration (from ground-dug to carefully preserved) and require a range of treatments.

The requirements for treatments vary according to a collector's standards. Some wish to return every object to the state in which it was issued/used (like new...such as cleaning cloth, scrubbing away old rust, buffing patina), while others wish to display articles "as found" or with the wear present to testify that the items have "been there." For instance, some collectors apply Pecard's or Saddle Soap to leather items such as helmet liners to keep them from drying out and falling apart--any treatment causes the leather to darken, thus changing the originality of the helmet. Some consider this preservation, while others may place lesser value on a "messed with" item. It appears a delicate balance between conservation and treatment.

I have felt most comfortable on the US Militaria Forum, which has scores of active members and that atmosphere is cordial. Anyone can read their posts (guest can browse free, unlike most forums), and I feel that beginners can ask questions with confidence to tap into the expertise of lifelong and wizened collectors all over the world (literally). The Preservation sub-forum sees updates frequently and has several topics pinned. I was led to a pasted article from the Kent State Museum, which I Googled and found the link. It contains tips on handling, stabilizing, and storing artifacts.

At this point, I have decided to return to my original questions to see if I can narrow down my research:

* What is the best method of display or storage to protect against these elements?
Storage and display are both important and I feel I can adequately address them. Protection against "the elements" is a common need of both displayed and stored items. I need to identify which elements I am going to protect against.

* Do I need climate control assets? What climates are the most destructive?
This can be combined with the question above. I am going to try and find out the best range of climates (temperature, light, humidity) for items to be stored and displayed at. With this information, I should then measure the current climates and determine if changes need to be made.

* Should items be cleaned or treated, and how would this affect their longevity and value?
The immediate answer is that it varies from collector to collector. Each has his/her preferences for collecting mint, worn, or relic items. In a market where values are determined by scarcity and how much others are willing to pay, the latter factor is variable from collector to collector. Thus, I am not going to answer the second part of this question.

* Why is collection documentation important, and how can it be used practically?
I think that documentation is important in charting deterioration. This is the best relation to my topic I can make with this question, but it will not be my primary focus.

* How can I best share my findings to educate other collectors?
This will address the "Waving" part!

* What can be feasibly accomplished on a small budget?
Ooooooh yes. Once I have the information I am seeking, I can begin to assess what, if any, changes need to be made to my collection at present. Then I can identify budget-friendly ways to go about preserving my items.

Webbing Part I

I am beginning to think of where I might acquire credible information to answer my questions. I have been noticing several trends in the last couple years as far as popular media is impacting the antique collecting field--television programming such as Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers has led to increased interest in WWII collectibles, and shows such as Pawn Stars and American Pickers on the History Channel have stirred interest in the antiques market. Google searches for information on preserving antiques reveals a field of personal and professional practices just as varied as the antiques themselves. To me, this variance and preserving a piece of history is what drives my interest, not the dollar signs underscoring the History Channel programming. But I digress.

Google returned a wide variety of tips on preserving antiques (which I broadly searched for initially). Many auction house/consignment firms offer tips, and private collector websites also do in their quest for sales. Firearms sales and collection websites also offer some tips. While museums themselves seldom have online information to showcase their practices, I have begun to locate a couple of sources mentioned in college museum program sites.

The first article I ran across is a 1993 article by the National Park Service on preserving museum collections. (review to follow soon) I then encountered one from the National WWII Museum that I found interesting. (review coming soon also).

I participate on several military antique collecting forums: Militaria Collecting Forum, US Militaria Forum, and Wehrmacht Awards Forum. These each have preservation sections that members contribute ideas and practices for preserving their collections. These are very interesting to read and vary greatly in the practices members recommend. I am seeking articles or links to journals or museum sites to begin with, before I delve into the process of analyzing individual collectors' tips.

That's all for tonight! More webbing soon.