February 20, 2025

Why do our Artifacts Deteriorate?

Introduction to Museum Artifacts: How They Were Made And How They Deteriorate

By Helen Alten

In the beginning, there was the earth. And from the earth grew plants and animals. And the earth was made of stone and rocks. And from this bounty, man experimented, invented, devised, decorated and created shelter, body coverings, cooking implements, transportation vehicles, toys, computers and, perhaps the most significant inventions of the 20^th Century, Spandex and Velcro. Together this comprises everything that would eventually end up in museums as representations of “material culture.” And we, the caretakers of the material culture of our ancestors, find the variety and creativity staggering. Especially as we fight our biggest demon – aging. To preserve our collections, we must understand how they were constructed and how the material reacts with our environment to deteriorate, or how the manufacturing process may include its eventual deconstruction.

Because of the variety and complexity of materials found in museums, we will try to explain every material by using two objects. From these two objects we will explore all others. You may or may not be familiar with these objects before the start of the course. But by the end, you will be on intimate terms with them, and the large variety of materials they represent for us.

The two objects that we will use are (1) Aleut hunting regalia and (2) Art deco fireplaces. The first represents organic materials – those derived from plants and animals. The second represents inorganic materials – those derived from the earth’s core minerals. Those of you from art museums or science museums may be thinking, “But these are not in our collection and have nothing to do with the materials I must protect!” Bear with me. We will expand our knowledge to encompass all the materials in your museums, either in the lecture, the forums or the chats.

As we discuss how materials deteriorate, I will refer to the Agents of Deterioration. The Canadian Conservation Institute has defined Ten Agents of Deterioration. They are (with no particular order or level of importance):

1.     Physical Forces

2.     Thieves and Vandals

3.     Fire

4.     Water

5.     Pests

6.     Pollutants

7.     Water

8.     Incorrect Temperature

9.     Incorrect Relative Humidity

10.  Dissociation

All or some of these will damage each material we discuss.

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Helen Alten lives in Haines, Alaska. Prior to coming to Haines she founded Northern States Conservation Center and Museum Classes. She is an objects conservator with a desire to bring about change through museums, improving our communities and the patrimony we leave to our off-spring

Museum Artifacts: How they were made and how they deteriorate

Every museum object is unique, but items made of similar materials share characteristics. Museum Artifacts gives participants an understanding of the materials and processes used to make objects – knowledge that better prepares them to decide how to care for their collections. Participants study two objects that represent all materials found in our museums. Through an in-depth analysis of their components, participants explore all possible objects found in any museum.

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Did you ever wonder how your artifacts were made and from what materials? Why are some artifacts more delicate and sensitive than others? Join Helen Alten for MS 213: Museum Artifacts: How they were made and how they deteriorate starting March 3, 2025.  

Rescheduled! New Dates April 7 -may 3, 2025!

Planning and Designing Interpretive Panels for Cultural Properties

The Planning, design and text copy development for interpretive panels is a practical “how to do it” course to develop updated or new interpretive panels for heritage sites, historic homes, natural areas, zoos, and other related sites. Panels are the most widely use interpretive media, world-wide, to quickly present a message or story to site visitors in a memorable fashion. We will look at the interpretive planning process, interpretive design concerns, interpretive text writing for panels, panel fabrication materials, panel pre-testing evaluation, and even how to write a RFP (request for proposal) to have your panels fabricated. This is an important course for any interpretive staff member, planner, designer or manager.

The course includes an e-copy of John’s Interpretive Planning Textbook, and a e-copy of John’s new The Interpretive Trails Book.

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Thinking of creating interpretive panels for your site? Learn all about them by joining John Veverka for MS270: Planning and Designing Interpretive Panels for Cultural Properties staring April 7, 2025.

Early Bird Discounts Available for Full Length Courses

An Early Bird Discount is available for anyone who signs up for a full length course from museumclasses.org 30 days prior to the start of that course. 

Sign up for a full length course up to 30 days prior to its start and save 20%!

For our course list or to sign up: http://www.collectioncare.org/course-list

To take advantage of this discount, you must enter coupon code EARLYBIRD at checkout at collectioncare.org

Earlybird discount for April 2025 courses is March 7, 2025

March 2025 Courses

1. Did you ever wonder how your artifacts were made and from what materials? Why are some artifacts more delicate and sensitive than others? This is the course for you to learn about the makeup and vulnerabilities of your collection.

MS 213: Museum Artifacts: How they were made and how they deteriorate

March 3 to April 18, 2025  

Instructor: Helen Alten

Description:

Every museum object is unique, but items made of similar materials share characteristics. Museum Artifacts gives participants an understanding of the materials and processes used to make objects – knowledge that better prepares them to decide how to care for their collections. Participants study two objects that represent all materials found in our museums. Through an in-depth analysis of their components, participants explore all possible objects found in any museum.

2. Planning for a new collections storage facility? Want to improve an existing storage area? This course is for you!

MS202: Museum Storage Facilities and Furniture

April 7 to May 3, 2025  

Instructor: Molly Winslow

Description:

If you are building a new storage facility or retrofitting an old one, this course provides the blueprint for how to approach architects and engineers as well as redesigning your facility yourself. The course covers the philosophy of storage, the construction requirements, security, fire and water prevention, types of furniture, and how to plan for collections growth.

The course will start with a refresher on the agents of deterioration and environmental issues to assure that the students have a common base to begin.

After this introduction, topics include determining storage and defining space, architectural design considerations and issues such as lighting, security and planning. We will discuss general information about storage furniture types and storage materials, how to modify existing cabinets and information on homemade storage systems. The last section includes specific information from a variety of vendors, specifics on writing a Request for Proposal (RFP), and what to consider when making a decision on a furniture type and vendor.

The instructor will add readings and other information depending upon the students and their individual institutional problems and concerns.

3. Do you have a volunteer program at your museum? Hoping to set up a new volunteer program? Do you have a Volunteer Handbook for your program? This course will help you understand and write a Volunteer Handbook for your volunteers.

MS 259: The Volunteer Handbook  

April 7 to May 16, 2025  

Instructor: Karin Hostetter

Description:

Volunteers should be considered unpaid staff and, like a staff handbook, a strong volunteer organization should have a volunteer handbook. This course goes beyond understanding various aspects of a volunteer program to putting the volunteer program to paper. Create an outline and some draft text for a handbook providing consistency within the volunteers as well a legal support if ever needed.

Conferences and Meetings

Double check each organization's website for more information.