Preservation of Museum Collections: Preventive Conservation Conservation Treatment

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Preservation Of Museum Collections

The preservation and continued use of a museum Preventive conservation is best implemented by
collection and its associated data depend on a the development of a park-specific plan that
park’s long-term commitment to an ongoing identifies tasks, establishes schedules and costs,
conservation program. The primary goal of and coordinates staff responsibilities in carrying
museum object conservation is to preserve out an ongoing program for the care and
whatever still exists of the object as nearly as maintenance of the museum collection. An
possible in an unchanging state. In the National effective preventive conservation program will
Park Service, this goal is achieved by the minimize the need for costly conservation
ongoing activity of preventive conservation treatment. Refer to the NPS Museum
supplemented, when necessary, by conservation Handbook, Part I (Rev 9/90), Chapter 3, for a
treatment. detailed discussion of preventive conservation.
Preventive Conservation Conservation Treatment
Preventive conservation emphasizes non- Conservation treatment is the interventive,

interventive actions to prevent damage to and hands-on work of preserving the physical
minimize deterioration of a museum object. and/or the aesthetic condition of a museum
Such actions include: object. The two broad categories of interventive
treatments are as follows:
Monitoring and recording levels of
environmental agents (e.g., light, relative Stabilization is a treatment action that is taken
humidity, temperature, and air pollution) to increase the stability or durability of an
object when preventive conservation measures
Inspecting and recording the condition of fail to decrease the rate of deterioration to an
objects acceptable level, or when an object has
deteriorated to the point where it is in danger
Controlling environmental agents of being completely lost.
Establishing an Integrated Pest Management Restoration is a treatment action that is taken

(IPM) program in all spaces housing museum in an attempt to bring an object as close as
collections possible to its original appearance, or to its
appearance at a particular time period, by
Practicing proper handling, storage, exhibit, removing accretions and subsequent additions,
housekeeping, and packing and shipping and/or by replacing missing elements.
techniques
Interventive treatments must be fully documented
Incorporating needed information and and performed according to the Code of Ethics
procedures regarding the museum collection and the Standards of Practice of the American
in emergency management plans Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic
Works. According to professional ethics and
National Park Service Conserve 0 Gram l/l
NPS Management Policies (Dee 88), any Most conservators specialize in specific classes
restoration treatment must be the minimum of materials (e.g., paintings, furniture, paper,
necessary, be fully documented, and be textiles, metals, ceramics and glass,
conducted without fraudulent intent. Refer to photographs, archeological or ethnographic
the NPS Museum Handbook, Part I (Rev 9/90), objects, or natural history specimens). The roles
Chapter 8, for detailed guidance on conservation of the curator and the conservator in preserving
treatment. museum collections are illustrated in the chart on
page 3 of this Conserve 0 Gram.
Responsibility
Conservation of museum objects is a shared role Reference

between the curator and the conservator. Mutual
understanding and respect for each other’s role Ward, Phillip R. l7re Nature of Conservation, A
and responsibilities to the collection are Race Against Time. Santa Monica, CA: The
important. The curator is skilled in the J. Paul Getty Institute, 1986.
management, preservation, and use of the
museum collection. Often, the curator is a
discipline or material culture specialist (e.g.,
archeology, history, biology, fine arts, Civil Anthony M. Knapp
War weapons, 19th-century furniture). The Staff Curator
conservator is skilled in the theoretical and Curatorial Services Division
practical aspects of preventive conservation and National Park Service
of performing examination and conservation Washington, D.C. 20013-7127
treatments of museum objects.

Revised 1993.
The Conserve 0 Grant series is published as a reference on The series is distributed to all NPS units and is available to non-NPS
collections management and curatorial issues. Mention of a product, institutions and interested individuals by subscription through the
a manufacturer, or a supplier by name in this publication does not Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
constitute an endorsement of that product or supplier by the National Washington, D.C. 20402. FAX (202) 512-2233. For further
Park Service. Sources named are not all inclusive. It is suggested information and guidance concerning any of the topics or procedures
that readers also seek alternative product and vendor information in addressed in the series, contact the National Park Service, Curatorial
order to assess the full range of available supplies and equipment. Services Division, Harpers Ferry. WV 25425. (304) 535-6410.
2 Preservation of Museum Collections

Conserve 0 Gram l/l National Park Service
Curator and Conservator Roles in Preserving Museum Collections*
Preventive mservation
Curator Conservator
Monitors and assesses the condition of Assesses the condition of objects;
objects conducts Collection Condition Surveys2
Monitors and evaluates the museum Alerts staff to signs and causes
environment of deterioration
Practices proper methods and techniques Provides technical guidance on museum
for storing, exhibiting, handling, environment, storage, exhibits,
packing, and shipping of objects handling, packing, and shipping
Develops and carries out an ongoing Assists in development of housekeeping/
housekeeping/maintenance program for maintenance programs and in
collection spaces preparation of emergency management plans
Prepares an emergency management plan
for the museum collection
Conservatic Treatment
Curator Conservator
l Documents history, significance, value, Examines and documents conditions and
and proposed use of each object problems of objects
to be treated Prepares treatment proposals for
Develops and monitors contracts for curatorial review and approval
conservation services Performs suitable treatments
Assesses, in consultation with Documents treatments performed
conservator, the suitability of written Recommends methods for the future
treatment proposals and authorizes maintenance and care of treated objects
treatments
Monitors the progress of treatment for
each object
Ensures continuing care for treated
objects
Notes: 1. The chart is based on Figure 3.1 in Chapter 3 of the NPS Museum Handbook, Part I (Rev 9/90).
2. Refer to the NPS Museum Handbook, Part I, Chapter 3, for guidance on Collection Condition
Surveys.
Preservation of Museum Collections 3

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Number l/l

Preservation Of Museum Collections

Preventive Conservation Conservation Treatment

Preventive conservation emphasizes non- Conservation treatment is the interventive,

Establishing an Integrated Pest Management Restoration is a treatment action that is taken

Conservation of museum objects is a shared role Reference

treatments of museum objects.

2 Preservation of Museum Collections

Curator and Conservator Roles in Preserving Museum Collections*

Preservation of Museum Collections 3

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