Store Your Treasures
Proper storage for your valued objects
will prevent damage and loss. The
materials used for storage can either harm or protect important
objects. Methods for packing away items can cause serious problems
for future use and enjoyment. The furniture on which or in which
things are stored can be good or bad as can the location chosen
for storage.
Materials
All materials used in the display of objects should be acid-free
and lignin-free. Wood is neither
acid-free nor lignin-free and is not a preferred material for
exhibiting valued objects. Painting wood does not stop the emission
of acid gasses from wood. These gasses attack nearby objects
and cause damage. Often, the paint applied to wood only adds
its own volatile gasses to the mix accelerating or exacerbating
the damage.
Methods
Objects prepared for storage should be completely covered. No part of the object should protrude from the
box, file folder, drawer, or cover. Soft items should be padded
to avoid sharp folds. Items should be fully supported and not
allowed to hang over edges. All items should be raised four to
six inches off the floor for cleaning and for protection from
leaks and minor floods. Object storage containers should very
clearly labeled so one does not have to open and unpack items
to find things.
Again, the proper environment in needed
in storage: low light levels, limited exposure, moderate temperature,
stable relative humidity above 25% and below 55%, and clean air.
See: Protect
Furniture
Many think that cedar chests and closets are the ideal place
to store important textiles and heirlooms.
These chest and closets were thought to be good because they
seemed to help reduce the likelihood of pest infestation in woolen
and silk items. The cedar does not kill any pests, its aromatic
gases are simply irritating for pests and make them less likely
to stay in the vicinity for a prolonged period. Cedar is a wood
that emits a great deal of acidic gas. The acidic gasses emitted
by cedar, some of which make it smell so good, are very acidic
and cause deterioration, dark discoloration along the edges of
folded items, and embrittlement of inorganic materials like quilts
and linens.
Research into the safety of materials
for use in museum storage has led
professionals to the use of powder coated steel storage shelving
and cabinets. This is the safest materials for shelving and cabinetry
and luckily, most metal shelving and cabinetry made today is
powder coated steel. All mat board, fabric, supports, padding,
boxes, and other materials used for storage should be acid free
and lignin free or made from inert plastics.
More Resources
(pdf)
Storage and Exhibit Materials
Guidelines
Housings for Objects
Conservation
Suppliers List
Safe Plastics and
Fabrics for Exhibit and Storage
Archives Materials
Links
Exhibits Handbook
