Specimen/Artifact Re-Housing

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• Specimen/Artifact Re-Housing Support
  Materials, Techniques and Designs for Long-Term
  Storage

Emily Kaplan Rachael Perkins Arenstein
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NMAI Mall Museumopened September 21, 2004
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Research Branch - Bronx, NY 1926 2004
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Cultural Resources Center
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CRC Collection Storage
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Comparison between the Research Branch (left) and
the CRC (right)
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Objects small and large
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Ceramics StorageBefore (left) After (below)
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Guiding Principles for Storage Mounts at NMAI

• Provide high degree of accessibility and
  visibility in storage to enhance viewing by
  staff, Native non-Native researchers, and
  visitors
• Object safety is of the highest priority in mount
  design
• Storage mounts should, when possible, be
  esthetically pleasing
• All objects should be in some form of container
  to minimize handling and movement from compactor
  shelving
• Barcodes and, when possible, written object
  numbers must be visible
• Respect handling and storage recommendations from
  Native consultants
• When possible objects should be stored in the
  orientation in which they would be used.

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Concessions to Guiding Principles

• Some objects may be boxed or stacked in trays or
  boxes
• Materials that can safely be rolled will
• Some garments may be folded or layered rather
  than stored flat
• Small items may be grouped or bagged together

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MATERIALSFOR SAFE STORAGE
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Materials Testing- The Oddy Test
Control (above) Failure (below)
Material subjected to high temp RH with metal
coupons. Significant corrosion indicates a
problem.
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Pre-Made Specimen Storage Boxes
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Acid-free paperboard
Pre-cut and scored for making storage trays and
boxes
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Corrugated Polypropylene Board (Coroplast)

• Pre-made tab and slot construction

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Acid-Free Corrugated Paper Board

• Custom-Made Trays

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Backer Rod

• Extruded polyethylene circular foam rod of
  different diameters

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Straight and Triangular Backer Rod
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Polyethylene Foam

• Ethafoam of different thicknesses

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Cross-Linked Polyethylene Foam

• Minicel foam plank
• Volara foam sheet

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Tyvek Sheet
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Teflon Tape
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Polyester Batting
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Hot Melt Glue

• Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer
• Low temperature hot melt glue for paperboard and
  foam
• High temperature hot melt glue for Coroplast

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Rivets
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MATERIALS DESIGNS FOR STORAGE MOUNTS
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Custom versus Standardized Supports
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Barcode Bags

• Polyethylene bags
• Volara
• Barcode Label

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Support for Multiple Small Items

• Old techniques (left) and quick, safe rehousing
  (right)

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Storing Multiple Objects
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Storing Multiple Objects Using Backer Rod
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Die Cut Rings

• Pot ring template

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Supports for Rounded Object
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Standardized technique for vessels
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Bean bags
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Standardized Trays Internal Supports
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Moccasins, stuffed with Tyvek pillows, in die-cut
Coroplast trays
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Blocking ItemsUsing Tri-Rod
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Blocking Multiple Related Items
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Volara Lining Tri-Rod Blocking
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Orientation

• Orientation indicated on the mount or tray

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Ethnographic Textile StorageBefore (right)
After (below)
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Flat Oversized Items
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Tyvek Trays for fragmenting items
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Boxing Stacking
Archaeological Textile Fragments
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Long Weapon Boxes
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Handling Oversized Objects
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Oversize Heavy Specimens
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Oversized Objects - Watercraft
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TIPS FOR MASS-PRODUCTION
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Work Stations
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Cutting Storing Materials

• Wall mounted board cutter for flat materials
• Storage racks for rolled materials

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Cutting Tyvek With Table Saw
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Jigs Templates
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Safe Handling Carts Handling Supports
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Thank You
Move staff at the Research Branch
Move staff at the Cultural Resources Center