Connecting to Collections Care

I work for a museum that oversees a historic house museum. Recent testing indicated lead dust on some of the windowsills and floors of the house. The areas in question will be stabilized and cleaned according to the environmental standards. As a part of this process, historic collections will be cleaned. The collections will be cleaned by a professional abatement company, not by our curatorial staff. My question is: has anyone else been through a lead paint abatement such as this one? What did you do to protect your collection while the abatement was ongoing? Does anyone know of any resources or consultants who can help us through this process? Any advice that can be given would be extremely helpful.

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Amberly Meli
Registrar
Museum of Florida History
Tallahassee FL
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Hi all-

I would add some of those same specialists are members of the C2C Care Community as well so if they'd like to chime in hear with some ideas or answers feel free!


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Robin Bauer Kilgo (she/her/hers)
Connecting to Collections Care Coordinator, FAIC
c2cc@culturalheritage.org
Contract Registrar/Consultant
rbkilgo@gmail.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-25-2023 09:54
From: Katherine Ridgway
Subject: Lead Abatement Project

Hi Amberly,

You might consider cross-posting to the AIC Health and Safety Network. They have some great industrial hygienists who monitor that list and would be able to provide you with good advice.  You can reach them here: health-safety@culturalheritage.org

Personally, I would invest in some heavy metal soap for washing your hands while it is going on. Something like D-Lead Hand Soap. 

Sounds like a tough project. Good luck!

Kate

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Katherine Ridgway State Archaeological Conservator Division of State Archaeology | Virginia Department of Historic Resources 804-482-6442 katherine.ridgway@dhr.virginia.gov www.dhr.virginia.gov 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23221

Hello Amberly, 

Though I am the monitor for this period, lead abatement is outside of my experience. I think the suggestion to post on the Health & Safety Network or reach out directly to a hygienist is excellent. You may consider reaching out to some historical house museums in your region for advice about vendors and experience as well. At the Miami AIC in 2016, I believe the staff at Vizcaya had renovations that were extensive and required several vendors. I'll take a look at the resources given to me to reference as a monitor and see if there's something more specific to share as well. 

Best, 
Beth

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Elizabeth Stone
Collections Conservator
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA
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