Collections Care Core Curriculum
These classes are considered essential in providing an informational foundation for anyone working with museum collections. The curriculum is designed to address the identification, care, and maintenance of a wide range of collection categories and materials. These courses also deal with current issues that are typical in small to mid-size institutions, and are appropriate for beginning level professionals and volunteers to mid-career professionals.
The Campbell Center has included nine courses in this section. It is suggested that Environmental Monitoring and Control and Introduction to Organic and Inorganic Materials be taken prior to any other courses. These courses provide the participant with an understanding of the nature of materials and the cause and effects of their deterioration.
See class listing below
Collections Care
The Collections Care courses are intended to meet the needs of curatorial, collections, and technical staff involved with specialized collections care responsibilities. These courses focus on one material type or one specific area of museum operations. They provide detailed hands-on study of the specific subject.
See class listing below core curriculum listing
CORE CURRICULUM COURSE LISTING
- Collections Management in Storage
- Collections Policies for Small Museums
- Computer Software for Collections Management
- Emergency Preparedness, Response, & Recovery
- Environmental Monitoring and Control
- Grant Writing for Collection Care
- Introduction to Organic & Inorganic Materials
- Packing and Shipping Workshop
- Photographic Documentation & Digital Imaging of Museum Collections
COLLECTIONS CARE COURSE LISTING
Artifact Moving
Rigging & Moving of Fine Art/Artifacts
Book and Paper
Book Collections Maintenance & Repair
Care of Book Collections
Care of Oversize Paper Artifacts
Care of Paper Artifacts
Preservation of Archives
Exhibits
Advanced Matting Workshop: Exhibition and Decorative Mounts
Design and Construction of Mounts for Exhibits
Designing Mannequin & Costume Forms for Exhibit
Exhibit Design for the Small Museum with Limited Resources
Exhibition Lighting Workshop
Introduction to Exhibit Development and Design
Mannequin Workshop
Matting and Hinging Workshop I
Writing Interpretive Exhibit Labels
Textiles
Care of Textiles I
Care of Textiles II
Care of Textiles III
2-Dimensional Art
Care of Paintings
Care of Photographic Collections I
Care of Photographic Collections II
Care of Photographic Collections III
Care of Works of Art on Paper I
Care of Works of Art on Paper II
3-Dimensional Objects
Care of Basketry and Other Woven Plant Materials
Care of Ethnographic Collections
Care and Preservation of Furniture and Other Wooden Objects
Care of Leather and Fur
Care of Metal Objects
Care of Stained and Leaded Glass
Preservation of Plastics I
Preservation of Plastics II
Storage
Storage Solutions for Small Museums
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Collections Management in Storage
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: Terry Birkett and Mary Turner
This course focuses specifically on collections management, facilities, and storage. The first section will cover risk assessment, staff training, inventory control, handling, and equipment. The second section addresses security and fire systems, environmental monitoring equipment, facility selection and design, and off-site storage. The third section discusses storage types, designs, material and construction; “custom-made” vs. “off-the-self” units; special housings; and how to build a custom objects storage unit.
Participants are encouraged to bring up to six slides illustrating problems with their collections storage facility for discussion and analysis.
Collections Policies for Small Museums
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: Linda Eppich
In this three day course designed for beginners, participants will learn how to write collections management, care and handling, and conservation/preservation policies appropriate to their museums. Legal problems concerning museum collections will be discussed; this will include deaccession and loans. Bibliography of sources and reading lists will be provided.
Participants who already have such policies are encouraged to bring them, plus the organization’s mission statement.
^back to topComputer Software for Collections Management
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 6
Offered: every year
Instructor: Terry Birkett
The focus of this course is on the process of artifact cataloguing and maintenance of collections records utilizing a computer database system. Course topics include computer and cataloguing basics; data standards and conventions; cataloguing goals and format types used in creating a cataloguing system; computer file systems; database types and features; commercially available collections management software; databases and photographic image importing and incorporation; and hands-on experience in creating a database.
Participants are encouraged to bring samples of their museum’s collections management records and procedures for review and discussion.
^back to topEmergency Preparedness, Response, & Recovery
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: Hilary Kaplan and Sharon Bennett
The purpose of this course is to thoroughly address the process of “risk management” by examining in detail how to prepare for and respond to disaster. Topics will include how to set realistic goals and objectives relative to a specific institution, the identification and assessment of risks to the institution, and the formulation of a prevention and response plan utilizing established emergency planning guidelines and procedure. Participants will learn how to effectively assess their institution’s current level of preparedness in the following areas: health and safety of staff, risk to facility, insurance coverage, standing offer contracts, and collections documentation. Multiple levels of disaster preparedness are examined including a review of response techniques, the setting of priorities in and directing a salvage operation, and on-going risk assessment throughout planning and response phases. A water emergency will be used to give participants a “hands-on” experience in emergency preparedness and disaster management and recovery.
^back to topEnvironmental Monitoring and Control
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: Susan Maltby
This course will provide an in-depth study of the monitoring and control of the museum environment, and an introduction to the effects of the museum environment on the organic and inorganic materials of museum artifacts. Course work will include: identifying the environmental factors such as light, relative humidity, temperature, pollutants, vibration, and various types of pests that can adversely affect museum collections; a review of the terms commonly used to describe the museum environment; high and low tech environmental monitoring techniques including the use of light meters, recording hygrothermographs, computer data loggers, indicator strips, and psychrometers; strategies for mitigating and controlling environmental problems; creating a pollutant-free environment; and integrated pest management. The class will combine lectures and lab sessions.
Participants are encouraged to bring a few slides or photographs that illustrate their collections care problems.
^back to topGrant Writing for Collection Care
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: even numbered years
Instructor: Helen Alten
Designed for small- to medium-sized museums, this course teaches the skills necessary to secure funding for collections care. Topics covered include the following: determining collections care needs; identifying appropriate funding sources; step-by-step procedures in preparing the grant document; and following through once the grant is awarded.
^back to topIntroduction to Organic & Inorganic Materials
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: Sheila Siegler
This course provides detailed information about the physical and chemical composition of artifacts; construction and fabrication techniques of artifacts; identification of specific types of deterioration relative to artifact composition; examination and assessment of artifacts; condition reporting for documentation; and guidelines for handling, storing, and exhibiting artifacts by material type. Preventative collections care strategies are taught throughout including the assessment and mitigation of risk, and setting collections care priorities. Half of the course is spent on plant and fiber, protein and polymers (organic) materials and the other half of the course is spent on glass, ceramic, metal, and stone (inorganic) material.
^back to topPacking and Shipping Workshop
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 10
Offered: every year
Instructor: John Molini
Participants will receive an overview of the principles involved in safe handling, packing, and transport of works of art and artifacts. Problem scenarios will be presented to participants for resolution in hands-on practicum sessions. Topics covered include: risk assessment, decision-making, and related issues in artifact transportation; crate design and construction; interior packing including methods and materials for 2-D and 3-D objects; design techniques for specialized components such as bracing, double boxing, packing frames and multiple object packaging; soft packing; and material selection and use.
Participants are encouraged to bring slides of packing problems for discussion and analysis.
^back to topPhotographic Documentation & Digital Imaging of Museum Collections
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 6
Offered: every year
Instructor: Jay Crawford
Designed for preservation and museum professionals who have little or no imaging/photographic experience, this course provides an introduction to documentation photography using digital imaging technologies. Some reference is made to SLR film photography; however, the focus of this course is for the participant to learn about and develop skills using a digital camera and flatbed scanner. Cameras and scanners are available for class use or participants can bring their own digital cameras and laptop computers if they wish. Topics covered in this course include an introduction to the photographic and digital imaging process; a review of the types and purposes of photographic documentation; artifact handling and safety during the photographic process; varied uses of the copy stand and scanner for 2-D and 3-D objects; using readily available equipment for table top/studio setups for 3-D objects; and a review of special problems of color consistency and control in the imaging process.
Participants will get hands-on experience in digital camera use, object setup, uploading images to a computer, manipulating files with image editing software, and the basics of image archiving.
^back to topRigging & Moving of Fine Art/Artifacts
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: even numbered years
Instructor: Roger Machin and Dean Langworthy
The focus of this course is to teach participants how to safely plan and execute moves of heavy and/or fragile museum artifacts weighing up to 5000lbs. Techniques taught will include equipment readily available to the heritage professional as well as equipment used by professional riggers. This course includes a brief history of rigging practices and technologies; how rigging crews and boxes are organized; mitigating the negative effects of rigging on surrounding structures and substrates using crates, pallets, and dunnage; using a forklift; common rigging problems and solutions; and specifications of and ordering cranes. There will be demonstrations and hands-on experience with rigging equipment.
^back to topBook Collections Maintenance & Repair
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: every year
Instructor: Garry Harrison
This class is a hands-on workshop for those responsible for the care, maintenance, and repair of circulating book collections. The class is of particular relevance to those professionals seeking an in-house option to outsourcing some repair and enclosure treatments to a commercial bindery. Topics covered in this course will include the criteria used in decision making concerning the triage and treatment of damaged books, an overview of the necessary equipment and materials used in the treatment of damaged books, and an introduction to the conservation ethics applicable to circulating collections. Repair treatments covered in this course will include hinge tightening, flat paper mending, tip-ins, spine replacement, recasing, and new casing. The types of protective enclosures covered in this course will include pockets, custom and manufactured binders, wrapper-type enclosures, and cloth-covered clamshell boxes.
Participants are encouraged to bring books for analysis, treatment, and discussion.
^back to topCare of Book Collections
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: even numbered years
Instructor: Betsy Palmer-Eldrige
Designed for museum, library, and/or archival staff who have little to no technical experience with book materials and structure, this course focuses on 19th to 21st century leather, cloth, and paper bindings and will cover a range of commonly encountered problems. Included in this course will be an overview of bound structures and their material composition; understanding agents of deterioration; identifying deterioration and formulating appropriate solutions; a review of protective housing for damaged books; review of commonly occurring maintenance issues; guidelines for handling, storing, and exhibiting bound volumes; and an introduction to risk assessment and disaster recovery procedures.
Participants are encouraged to bring bound samples for analysis and discussion.
^back to topCare of Oversize Paper Artifacts
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: even numbered years
Instructor: Toddy Glaser
This course is designed for those professionals who understand, care for, and manage collections containing oversized paper artifacts such as posters, maps, and architectural drawings. It will review the basics of preventative care for paper collections including the agents of deterioration, collections care priority setting, handling, storing and displaying. Additionally, it will cover the following topics: brief history of architectural plans including photo reproductive processes; a case history – re-housing large collections of oversized plans; special problems of wallpaper, scrapbooks, albums, and three dimensional or other unique paper objects; and working with a conservator on artifact treatment. Participants will also learn simple in-house treatments not requiring a conservator such as flattening folded and rolled items, surface cleaning, repair of simple tears and polyester film encapsulation.
Participants are encouraged to bring one or more items for examination and discussion.
^back to topCare of Paper Artifacts
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: every year
Instructor: Susan Russick
Designed for conservation technicians and others who wish to learn paper mending skills. This course will emphasize performing treatment on rare, flat paper; bound paper; and 3-D paper objects using Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste. Topics covered include a review of paper materials, production, and degradation; preventative care of paper collections; historic mending materials and techniques; surface cleaning and humidification techniques; currently accepted materials used for mending; techniques of mending and filling; treatment documentation; criteria for conservation treatment; and alternatives to paper mending.
Participants will receive a tool kit to use, but may want to bring their own tools. Participants are encouraged to bring examples of specific problems for examination and possible treatment.
^back to topPreservation of Archives
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: odd numbered years
Instructor: Hilary Kaplan and Sara Shpargel
The goal of this course is to provide the participant with a foundation for making long-term preservation decisions about a variety of archival holdings. The emphasis is on practical, preventative, and cost-effective methodologies. The course will provide an overview of archival materials, focusing on paper-based holdings with attention paid to requirements for machine-readable formats. Topics covered include: factors affecting preservation and access to holdings; preservation and descriptive terminology; the environments; handling and use guidelines; issues related to displays and exhibits; appropriate housing and storage materials; reformatting technologies; philosophy and techniques for holdings maintenance; disaster preparedness; security and conservation treatment parameters.
^back to topAdvanced Matting Workshop: Exhibition and Decorative Mounts
Prerequisite: Matting Workshop
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 10
Offered: odd numbered years
Instructor: Christine Conniff-O’Shea
Designed as hands-on experience, this course focuses on museum matting for exhibitions and loans. Participants will learn techniques for matting and hinging the more challenging and problematic objects in print and drawing collections such as: works on vellum, copperplates, and works with dimension and fragile surfaces. There will be an emphasis on the special conservation and aesthetic needs of exhibition matting and framing, especially in a historic context. All participants will leave the course with a set of models that incorporate all techniques, methods, and materials covered in class.
Participants are encouraged to bring 1-2 items for discussion and examination. They should not be extremely fragile or larger than 18”x24”.
Design and Construction of Mounts for Exhibits
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: Earl Lock and Pam Gaible
This course covers both theory and hands-on practice of mount making for museum objects. Topics include the designing and fabrication of mounts to protect, support, secure, and exhibit a variety of museum objects and various techniques for using archival materials in mount making. Practicum will include: techniques for braising metals; cutting, bending, and gluing acrylics for the use of various archival barrier materials; and for making fabric covered ethafoam forms.
Participants may bring one or two small objects and can retain the mounts they construct for these objects.
Designing Mannequin & Costume Forms for Exhibit
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: every year
Instructor: Steven Rosengard
This course will focus on examining the changing female silhouette from the periods of 1830-1970, and how they affect the way a costume appears on exhibit; appropriate archival materials to use with museum costumes; and proper methods for exhibiting hats and other headgear. Participants will learn the process of carving polypropylene foam to create custom forms, and will make forms that they can take back to their institutions.
Participants may bring costume pieces from their collection, and be prepared to transport your forms back home.
^back to topExhibit Design for the Small Museum with Limited Resources
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: Earl Lock
The focus of this course is exhibit design for those with little or no design experience. This course will cover: the basic elements and principles of design, how to apply them effectively to museum exhibits, the process of exhibit development, conservation concerns and the use of archival materials in the design of exhibit cases and components, the design of exhibit labels, typography, exhibit lighting, and accessibility.
Participants are encouraged to bring slides of their exhibit space(s) and be prepared to discuss problems their institution is facing related to exhibit design.
^back to topExhibition Lighting Workshop
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: David Layman
This course will provide the participant with a basic overview of the theory and practice of lighting design. The goal of the course is for the participant to become functionally familiar with the main parameters of exhibition lighting including preventative care guidelines for objects on exhibition. This will be done through lecture and discussion; example analysis; and practicum activities focusing on the fundamental qualities of light. Topics also covered will be: the tools used by the exhibition lighting designer and the process of lighting design from conception to exhibition opening. Special attention will be given to how the lighting can be used to reinforce exhibit content, how lighting is engineered for specific psychological effect, and how lighting is integrated into the totality of the exhibition design.
^back to topIntroduction to Exhibit Development and Design
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: Friends
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: John Russick
This course is designed for museum, historic home, and library professionals and volunteers involved in the development and design of exhibitions. It is for those professionals who have limited experience working on exhibit projects and want to expand their knowledge and skills. Participants will receive an overview of the tools, relationships, and processes involved in creating a quality exhibition experience for the visitors. Working in teams, the class will generate original exhibition plans. Topics covered in this course will include: exhibit concept development; exhibit design strategies, the role of various media formats in exhibition design; the role of interactive features in exhibition design; bubble planning; model making, and label composition and design.
^back to topMannequin Workshop
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: every year
Instructor: Helen Alten
The focus of this course is to provide a practical, hands-on introduction to the construction of mannequin supports for the safe display of garments.
Included in this course is a discussion on theory and realism in the design of mannequins and an overview of materials used for mannequin-making. The types of mannequin forms covered include: rigid foam mannequins, paper tape and paper mache mannequins, rigid netting and screen forms, plexiglass forms, dressmaker forms, and recycled forms. Other topics discussed are casting and molding for realism, problem-solving mannequin forms; and testing the materials used in making mannequins.
Participants need to bring a fitted garment for which they will select materials and construct a mannequin. Each participant will complete two mannequin forms to keep. For transporting the forms back home, it is suggested for each participant to bring a large, collapsible duffel bag.
^back to topMatting and Hinging Workshop I
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: even numbered years
Instructor: Susan Russick
Designed as a hands-on workshop, this course focuses on museum matting and archival storage of paper artifacts. Topics include: the basic principals of archival mounting for storage, exhibition, and loans; selection of mounting materials; floated and overmatted structures; paste making; mat cutting; and various methods of hinging and non-adhesive mounting techniques. All course participants gain experience with many of the basic solutions to archival housing of paper artifacts.
Participants should bring 10 practice objects, each around 5”x 7”, to mount.
^back to topWriting Interpretive Exhibit Labels
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: Friends
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: Barbara Becker
From this course, experienced label-writers will obtain new tools and perspective, and the novice will become well versed in the necessary skills to become a proficient and effective label-writer. Lectures, practicum, and discussion of case studies will cover the following topics: necessary planning for writing labels; developing a “big idea” for the exhibition; developing a “voice” for your labels; writing, editing, and reviewing label copy; the basics of good typography and label design; problem solving difficult label issues; and trying out labels before they’re done.
Participants are encouraged to bring examples of their own labels either finished of works-in progress.
^back to topCare of Textiles I
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: Harold Mailand
This course will familiarize participants with the chemical and physical structure of textile fibers; the causes and effects of deterioration; environmental standards and standards for storage, handling, and exhibiting both flat and formed textiles; descriptive terminology and simple tests for fiber identification; properties and effects of finishes; ethical limitations and considerations in the treatment of textile pieces including aqueous cleaning. Hands-on practicum will include handling and examination techniques, surface cleaning, and correct methods for textile storage.
Participants are encouraged to bring sturdy, representative textile samples for examination and analysis.
^back to topCare of Textiles II
Prerequisite: Care of Textiles I
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: odd numbered years
Instructor: Harold Mailand
Building on the material covered in Care of Textiles I, this class will combine lecture, demonstrations, and hands-on experience in currently accepted techniques for curatorial care of textiles. Course work will include: review of conservation ethics and examination techniques covered in the introductory course; documenting condition; determining and documenting the causes of damage to textiles; introduction to fiber microscopy; techniques for the display and storage of fragile textiles; non-intrusive mounting techniques for the display of flat textiles; and basic repair of structural damage, including the selection of appropriate mending materials.
Participants are encouraged to bring representative samples of non-accessioned textiles for use in workshop sessions.
^back to topCare of Textiles III
Prerequisite: Care of Textiles II
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: even numbered years
Instructor: Harold Mailand
This four-day class will combine reading, lecture, demonstrations, and hands-on experience to review and apply currently accepted techniques for curatorial care of textiles and costumes. Course work builds on experiences from Textiles I and II. This will include the review of conservation ethics; examination techniques; documentation procedures; and emergency preparedness and reaction. Three days will be dedicated for guided treatments of a textile object. This may include: basic wet cleaning; basic repair of structural damage, including the selection of appropriate materials; and aesthetic compensation for loss.
Participants are to bring “Stitch Sampler” from Care of Textiles I. Participants are also encouraged to bring other objects for discussion and treatments. Please discuss objects and treatments with instructor in advance.
^back to topCare of Paintings
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 10
Offered: every year
Instructor: Cynthia Kuniej-Berry
From this course, participants will learn the basic structure of easel paintings; cause of deterioration; examination methodologies; identification of damage; condition reporting and documentation strategies; and the standards for storing, handling, displaying, installing, and transporting paintings. Conservation treatment of paintings is not covered in this course. Hands-on practicum sessions will teach participants proper handling; examination and condition reporting; re-housing of framed paintings; and packing for local transporting.
Participants are encouraged to formulate questions and/or bring images that represent painting-related issues their institutions are facing.
^back to topCare of Photographic Collections I
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: every year
Instructor: Gary Albright
The focus of this course is on the preventative care of historical and contemporary photographs. Topics to be covered include the history and evolution of photography, agents of photographic deterioration, the stability and deterioration of each type of photograph, examination and identification of different photographic processes, and guidelines and standards for storage, exhibition, and use of photographic collections. The course will discuss all major photographic processes, positive and negative, used throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These will include daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, salted paper prints, albumen prints, collodion prints, carbon prints, platinum prints, gelatin prints, glass plate negatives, and film-based negatives.
Participants are encouraged to bring items for discussion and examination.
^back to topCare of Photographic Collections II
Prerequisite: Care of Photographic Collections I
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: even numbered years
Instructor: Gary Albright
This course will focus on the importance of conservation assessments as a preservation tool for photograph collections. Participants will visit a nearby institution to examine photographs and access preservation needs. In preparation for this assessment, it will be necessary to review applicable material from Care of Photographs I, such as the identification of photographic processes, their deterioration, and their preservation. During the assessment participants will access storage and environmental conditions, examine how the collection is used, and them set conservation priorities. The course will also address several related conservation issues: surface cleaning of photographs in preparation for exhibition, the proper mounting of photographs for exhibition, and the history, identification, and deterioration of color photographs.
^back to topCare of Photographic Collections III
Prerequisite: Care of Photographic Collections I
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: odd numbered years
Instructor: Gary Albright
This course will reinforce and supplement the material covered in Care of Photographic Collections I. The class will include both lecture and practicum sessions. Course work will focus on: reviewing the unique characteristics of the various photographic processes; special stabilization problems related to early cased objects, glass plate negatives, and photographic albums; cleaning of negatives and cased images; solutions to commonly encountered preservation issues; parameters which determine the treatment options for gelatin photographs; and an understanding of digital images and their preservation.
For discussion in class, each participant is asked to bring a photographic preservation dilemma from their collection. This could be a single photograph with special problems, a sampling from a group of photographs with related problems, a slide or PowerPoint presentation which illustrates preservation concerns within the institution. They may be focused on storage, access, or administrative issues.
^back to topCare of Works of Art on Paper I
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 6
Offered: every year
Instructor: Margo McFarland
This course introduces the participants to the nature, history, and care of works of art on paper. Participants will explore the physical and chemical properties of paper and media affecting their permanence and durability, overview historical and contemporary papermaking technologies, learn to identify different papers and commonly used medias, and the standards for documentation of works of art on paper and archival materials. Additionally, this course addresses standards for handling, the exhibition of, and the storage of works of art on paper and archival materials. Hands-on practicum sessions include techniques of surface dry cleaning to remove dirt and extraneous markings; humidification and flattening techniques for brittle, rolled, and folded pieces; and the mending of simple tears.
Participants are encouraged to bring one or two stable items not larger than 18”x 24” for examination, analysis, and discussion.
^back to topCare of Works of Art on Paper II
Prerequisite: Care of Works of Art on Paper I
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: odd numbered years
Instructor: Margo McFarland
This course is a continuation of the Care of Works of Art on Paper I. It is designed for the heritage professional who desires to further develop his or her skills in the assessment, analysis, and documentation of works of art on paper and archival materials. Participants are expected to understand the chemical properties and physical behavior of paper-based art and archival material. Hands-on practicum sessions in this course extend the participant’s skills beyond what was taught in the first course. Participants will become familiar with the equipment and materials utilized in the execution of care techniques involving works of art on paper and archival materials. Skills taught and practiced in this course include aqueous washing and paper de-acidification, cosmetic loss compensation to the primary support (pulp repair), and toning/inpainting techniques.
^back to topCare of Basketry and Other Woven Plant Materials
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: every year
Instructor: Helen Alten
Preventative care and curatorial management of woven plant artifacts is the focus of this course. Topics covered include: an overview of history and function including shape, materials, decoration, and manufacturing techniques; an introduction to the techniques used to clean, reshape, and repair; a review of the agents of deterioration; guidelines for handling, labeling, mounting, and storing; an introduction to fiber and dye analysis and identification; a review of condition reporting methods; and an introduction to integrated pest management and acceptable control strategies.
Participants are encouraged to bring small size woven plant-fiber artifacts that can be used during practicum and discussion sessions.
Care of Ethnographic Collections
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of collections care and the museum environment.
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: even numbered years
Instructor: Julia Fenn
This course will cover issues and solutions arising from the special needs of museum collections which incorporate many cultures, wide time frames and infinite combinations of materials. Emphasis is placed on evaluating priorities and inexpensive solutions for collection managers with limited budgets and little assistance.
The four day session will include: strategies for coping with artifacts having inherent vice; unusual or especially fragile materials; spiritual, political, and cultural sensitivities affecting storage, display, loans, and access to collections; ethics and liabilities relating to human remains and stolen artifacts; special considerations for artifacts made from endangered species; and basic identification of some commonly prohibited materials. Topics also discussed will include: how to properly support artifacts with large or difficult shapes; how to recognize and manage hazardous materials in collections; how and when to recycle mounts, vitrines and packing materials; non-toxic methods for controlling mold and pest infestations; and assessing deterioration and when immediate action is required.
Participants are encouraged to bring pictures of problems and solutions or difficult artifacts from their own collections for discussion.
^back to topCare and Preservation of Furniture and Other Wooden Objects
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: every year
Instructor: Craig Deller
In this course the instructor will focus on topics specific to participants needs. Topics may include American and European furniture styles and construction techniques; examination and documentation for condition reporting; identifying and preserving historic coatings; proper cleaning techniques; making artificial saliva ect. adhesives; methods and materials for practicing selective varnish removal; and ethical, practical and aesthetic considerations when using these procedures. Other topics may be explored at the participant's request. It is highly recommended that the student bring an object for hands-on work. This course's objective is to teach whatever the student needs to know about thier specific collection. It will be freewheeling and student partictpation is expected. A pre-class survey will be taken by email to help target specific needs.The instructor will cover all questions students may have about this subject.
^back to top
Care of Leather and Fur
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 8
Offered: every year
Instructor: Helen Alten
This course focuses on proper methods of care, handling, storage, and display of leather, fur, and other skin materials, in addition to introducing participants to methods of cleaning, repairing, and reshaping different types of skin materials. Specific topics covered include: the history and function of skin materials; an introduction to tanning, decoration, and manufacturing techniques; an overview of the chemical and physical composition of skin materials and why they deteriorate over time; examination techniques and materials identification methods; condition reporting; the agents of deterioration including environmental factors and pests; methodologies to monitor, prevent, and mitigate deterioration due to environmental factors and pest infestation; and potential safety hazards and problems with skin materials.
Participants are encouraged to bring furs, leather, vellum, buckskin or other hide materials that can be used in practicum sessions.
Care of Metal Objects
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: even numbered years
Instructor: TBA
This course is a hands-on workshop for museum curators and collections managers who have metal objects in their collections. The course will begin with a review of chemical and physical properties, origins, and fabrication technology of metals. Deterioration, both structural and surface, and its various causes will be discussed. Identification of different types of metal alloys and surface finishing techniques will be covered in lab sessions. Other topics will include proper handling; storage and display materials; and prioritizing preventative maintenance. Although preventative care is stressed, the reduction of surface corrosion and tarnish will be covered in lab sessions, including associated safety and health concerns. Consideration will be given to both indoor and outdoor metals in a historic house context.
Participants are encouraged to bring one or more examples of specific problems for discussion and practicum sessions.
^back to topCare of Stained and Leaded Glass
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 10
Offered: odd numbered years
Instructor: Diane Roberts Rousseau
The goal of this course is to increase awareness of conservation techniques which maintain the structural integrity of leaded glass while increasing the aesthetic beauty of these objects. Specific topics covered are the standards for documentation, handling, storage, exhibition, and packing for transport; the structural and chemical nature of stained and leaded glass; safety and health considerations; identification of vulnerable objects; and the ethics of conservation treatment; photography and the use of Corpus Vitrearum charting practices; agents of deterioration, such as chemical instability, poor firing or annealing, or human intervention; and techniques of reversing previous repairs and stabilization and treatment of recent damage.
Participants will get hands-on experience with stained/leaded glass materials through instructor-supervised projects. Any participant wanting to bring their own piece(s) to the course need advance approval from their instructor.
^back to topPreservation of Plastics I
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: odd numbered years
Instructor: Julia Fenn
Plastic objects are a part of many art, archives, and museum collections. If they become problematic, they are often viewed as wasting valuable museum resources because of having to be quarantined or permanently housed in cold storage and are often targeted for deaccessioning. This course focuses on simple, manageable, and low cost strategies for coping with plastic and partly plastic objects while maintaining them in the regular collections environment. More specifically, emphasis will be placed on recognizing the difference between benign and malignant plastics and will focus on the design of adequate collections care policies, the determination of reasonable collections care priorities, and developing collections care strategies to effectively manage plastic or partly plastic objects within a collections environment with limited resources.
Participants are encouraged to bring examples or pictures of problematic plastic or partly plastic objects for examination and/or discussion.
^back to topPreservation of Plastics II
Prerequisite: Preservation of Plastics I
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 12
Offered: odd numbered years
Instructor: Julia Fenn
This course will focus on the most collectible and problematic plastics such as bakelite, celluloid and vulcanite, found in art, archives, and museum collections. Participants will learn about the composition of each plastic type, how to identify and distinguish between these plastics using simple tests, examine the inherent risks of each plastic, and examine methodologies to manage these plastics in the collections environment. Recognizing that the conservation treatment of plastic objects is in its infancy, the last day will be devoted to providing an overview of conservation treatment of broken and deteriorating plastic objects geared to the preventative collections care professionals. Topics will include the role of the conservator and when to engage their services; current conservation practices, and materials used in conservation treatment of plastics.
Participants are encouraged to bring examples or pictures of problematic plastic or partly plastic objects for examination and/or discussion. If there is an interest in any particular type of plastic, please let the instructor know in advance and it will be incorporated into the course.
^back to topStorage Solutions for Small Museums
Prerequisite: none
Scholarships: NEH
Class limit: 10
Offered: every year
Instructor: Susan Maltby
This two day course will focus on providing good, safe museum storage. Topics covered will include: storage design and layout; security; shelving & racking; low to no cost upgrades; and storage mounts and enclosures.
Participants are urged to bring photographs of their storage problems and/or solutions to share with the class.
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