Connecting to Collections Care

So first and foremost props to you Allison J you are being asked by your employer to carry out a task that SEEMS basic and straightforward but you had the good sense to post on the forum here. To me this is exactly what this forum should be used for...but to commend you further you have stuck your neck out, told everyone what your background education is, AND you have not asked for a "recipe" but more importantly for guidance.

This is a commendable thing to be sure....you have already received some excellent advice. But I will offer another small bit here (take it or leave it!). Someone stated that hiring a conservator is "can be expensive." Yes indeed. Sometimes we can be expensive...or not. But is your health "too expensive?" You have already heard from experts that pesticides may be involved. In addition, is the Oceanic collection not deserving of attention from professionals? Is that "too expensive" to be true stewards when it comes to objects that are associated with under-represented cultures and communities? When I go to the museum's homepage what I see first are European paintings....that is fine and all (full confession....I am a paintings conservator so that is mainly my focus!) but I imagine in this day and age your employer is looking to fully represent all things to do with artists/artisans/workshops who are not/have not been wholly or adequately represented.

You are TOTALLY right to ask these questions...as these objects deserve diagnoses from professional conservators no doubt. Realize the slight irony in this situation.....your institution has hired you in good faith. You have already proven yourself to be a good steward by posting on this forum in the first place...but they are asking you to do something that is perhaps a bit outside your skillset and you are not sure what to do. So you post here. Now you are learning that you might have put yourself in harms way and that things are a bit more complicated when it comes to Oceanic Objects.  If you are nervous or in any way reticent to approach your superiors about this issue DON'T be.  If they want to do right by their collection and be true stewards when it comes to objects under their care DON'T be.

Realize that today museums too often will tell us that "funds are tight" while signaling to their donors that they are investing in contemporary social movements. BUT be smart and let your institution know that they do indeed have a collection that is worthy of in-depth research, conservation, and preventive care...and that you have now found an online resource to help guide them along this path.

So first and foremost props to you Allison J you are being asked by your employer to carry out a task that SEEMS basic and straightforward but you had the good sense to post on the forum here. To me this is exactly what this forum should be used for...but to commend you further you have stuck your neck out, told everyone what your background education is, AND you have not asked for a "recipe" but more importantly for guidance.

This is a commendable thing to be sure....you have already received some excellent advice. But I will offer another small bit here (take it or leave it!). Someone stated that hiring a conservator is "can be expensive." Yes indeed. Sometimes we can be expensive...or not. But is your health "too expensive?" You have already heard from experts that pesticides may be involved. In addition, is the Oceanic collection not deserving of attention from professionals? Is that "too expensive" to be true stewards when it comes to objects that are associated with under-represented cultures and communities? When I go to the museum's homepage what I see first are European paintings....that is fine and all (full confession....I am a paintings conservator so that is mainly my focus!) but I imagine in this day and age your employer is looking to fully represent all things to do with artists/artisans/workshops who are not/have not been wholly or adequately represented.

You are TOTALLY right to ask these questions...as these objects deserve diagnoses from professional conservators no doubt. Realize the slight irony in this situation.....your institution has hired you in good faith. You have already proven yourself to be a good steward by posting on this forum in the first place...but they are asking you to do something that is perhaps a bit outside your skillset and you are not sure what to do. So you post here. Now you are learning that you might have put yourself in harms way and that things are a bit more complicated when it comes to Oceanic Objects.  If you are nervous or in any way reticent to approach your superiors about this issue DON'T be.  If they want to do right by their collection and be true stewards when it comes to objects under their care DON'T be.

Realize that today museums too often will tell us that "funds are tight" while signaling to their donors that they are investing in contemporary social movements. BUT be smart and let your institution know that they do indeed have a collection that is worthy of in-depth research, conservation, and preventive care...and that you have now found an online resource to help guide them along this path.