Photo Album
On Wednesday after the Community Historian class, a group of us stayed for a special afternoon session with Barbara Minard, Collections Manager of the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum. As a special favor, she had offered to meet with those who might be interested in learning how to take ‘proper’ or at least better care of family treasures.
The response was huge so we were divided into two groups who would meet on two separate afternoons. We were asked to bring our items (limit: two per person) for a hands-on workshop – a three-hour session choc-a-block full information and helpful suggestions. We learned about ‘agents of deterioration’ (Did you know that glare-proof glass is a no-no for framing most things?) and acceptable humidity ranges and lists of resources for archival supplies.
Oilcloth History Scroll
I was especially interested in the variety of objects that people brought in – old letters, a pottery bowl (with crack), a family bible, a photo album, a hand mirror with a damaged celluloid back, an old iron toy… and so many more fascinating items. Nyel had taken two items from our ‘back forty’ – an old (circa 1900) 22-foot-long oil cloth scroll that depicts all the events of the world since the time of Adam(!) and a blueprint of the original plat map of Oysterville. I took my grandmother’s 1897 Japanese silk and bamboo parasol and one of her handwritten books of poetry that had bits of fabric from her wedding trousseau tucked inside.
Not only did we learn some generalities about the care of types of things – fabric, paper, photographs, metal objects, china and glassware, but Barbara also talked specifics about each of the objects we had brought. It was fascinating, enlightening and, to me, somewhat overwhelming. I couldn’t help but think that we are blessed with a houseful of such artifacts — not to mention the furniture and light fixtures and other “stuff” that comes of living in a generational home where nothing has ever been thrown away, or so it seems.
Parasol
How could we possibly put all the large old leather-bound books in archival boxes for safe-keeping? When could we find time to remove all those glued-on photographs from their black paper album pages so that they wouldn’t fade away completely? How could we possibly wrap all the old textiles in cotton cheesecloth for proper storage – those 100-year-old baby clothes and hand embroidered tea towels and doilies crocheted by my great-grandmother?
People often say that we live in a “museum.” I agree. But it’s also our home and, although it’s full of things we love, they are also the things we use as we go about our daily lives. I did not want to be a museum curator or a collections manager when I grew up. But… some blessings come with responsibilities. Or maybe all blessings do. YIKES!
Oh how I wish I could take that class with you! I am really interested in saving my family pictures, etc. I am startled about the nonglare glass thing! By all means you the things you love.