A Condition Survey of the Museum's Artifact Collection

FAIN: PG-50977-10

Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center, Inc. (Haines, AK 99827-0269)
Jerrie Clarke (Project Director: May 2009 to May 2011)

Funding supports a general preservation assessment and the purchase of preservation supplies and environmental monitoring equipment for this local history museum. The collection consists of 2,515 historical artifacts, 885 pieces of art, more than 6,000 photographs, 1,677 bound volumes, and 1,296 archival items dealing with the history of the Chilkat Valley and the town of Haines, Alaska.

Four dataloggers and accompanying shuttle software to record and analyze the recorded temperature and humidity and a Nilfisk museum compatible GM 80 vacuum with variable speed control in order to more easily and safely clean the exhibits and perhaps artifacts, and materials (i.e. museum board to make boxes, batting, twill tape, etc.) to make pallets and supports that will make the artifacts safer in storage will be purchased. Alaska State Museum's Curator of Museum Services will make a site visit to oversee the initial stages of a thorough item specific condition survey of the artifact collection, make sure staff and volunteers understand the condition reporting process, look at those artifacts previously identified as needing special attention, explain how to handle artifacts during exhibit cleaning, help identify needed improvements to storage, and lead a workshop on making pallets and supports for fragile artifacts. He will also answer Staff's questions about the dataloggers.