You might know that when you walk through a museum you see organized collections, well-presented exhibits, and explanations. What you probably don’t realize is that this is just one small part of a museum’s work. Most of the work is not done in a room with people looking at artifacts and reading labels. Everything displayed has been prepared before it gets put into an exhibition case. This preparation involves study, conservation, research, and other types of research.
There is not just one task of collection care, but there are many. Without a well-organized care system, objects would not be preserved properly and could potentially be lost or destroyed, along with their information.
The collection process starts with an object. For example, if you find an object, you can begin the process by documenting the object’s features, such as its location, date, material, size, condition, and cultural or historical context. This information goes into a museum collection catalog so that curators and researchers know where an object was, how it is made, and its significance. This is important to know because other museum staff can use this information if they have questions about the object. Most museums contain thousands of items in their collections; therefore, organizing them is essential.
One of the most important aspects of collection care is the care of individual objects themselves. Objects that are part of a museum collection can be made of a variety of materials that could decay over time if they were not properly taken care of. In order for them to stay safe, objects must be kept away from humidity, light, temperature fluctuations, dust, and human touch. This is necessary because some materials could become damaged in time if they are not placed in proper environments. For instance, each object, such as a painting, text piece, ceramic, or metal object, requires different levels of light, temperature, and humidity in order for it to be in good condition for future generations. Conservators regularly monitor objects so that they can be sure objects are in proper condition and to know when they require conservation. Conservation is important because it helps to stop an object from being damaged and it helps preserve the object so that it will last a long time. Most conservation does not necessarily restore the appearance of an object, but rather it protects the object so that it does not age any further and that its significance remains clear.
Another aspect of collecting objects is the process of putting objects into an exhibit. In a perfect world, all objects that are a part of a collection would get the same attention and care; unfortunately, that is not always possible. Curators carefully examine their collection and choose the most meaningful and significant objects for a specific exhibit. In addition, the conservation team may decide which items in the exhibition can be placed out into public view and for how long they can be displayed. The duration of each display depends on the fragility and significance of each object. For instance, if a painting or text is in good enough condition, it can remain on display for a longer period of time than an object that is more fragile and could be harmed by being displayed. Lighting levels, materials used to display objects, and visitor viewing areas must all be considered when preparing objects to be seen by the public. After objects have been prepared, the exhibit designers will come up with a display plan. This plan will show the layout and arrangement of objects and how people will be able to access information. Finally, the exhibit is put together and opens to the public. These steps ensure that the objects being shown will stay protected and in good shape.
In the 21st century, technology has made the collection and preservation process much easier. There are more and more digital systems, such as databases, in museums, and this means that objects can be recorded in a catalog instead of being recorded on paper. Technology has made cataloguing items much easier and faster to retrieve, such as keeping a digital record of an object’s location and condition and tracking the history of its care. Other digital records may include photographs, video footage, and scans, which can all be useful in research, accessibility, and collection management. These digital tools also allow objects to be seen and studied all over the world without the need to access their physical location in a museum. Technology has made the preservation and organization of objects in a museum collection more accessible and available to the general public.
As seen through these processes, museums are doing much more than just displaying items for the public. Museums collect, study, protect, and share artifacts that document human culture and history. This kind of work brings a lot of meaning to each museum. Although you will not likely see the documentation, conservation, storage, exhibition, and collection processes that museum employees go through, you can be sure that these processes are what make up a museum’s daily life. The next time you take a look at a display of cultural, historical, or scientific artifacts in a museum, take time to think about the effort and dedication of the professionals who care for them.