For Immediate Release
December 23, 2020
Juneau – When it comes to preserving our cultural heritage collections, knowing what causes damage is crucial to mitigate losses. Alaska State Museum conservator Ellen Carrlee has developed an Alaska-specific guide “Alaskan Agents of Deterioration” as a checklist of what to consider in all kinds of decision-making situations. The free resource includes images, examples, and in-depth documents free to download. The top ten agents are: temperature, relative humidity, light, pests, physical forces, pollutants, water, fire, thieves/vandals, and dissociation. While the “Agents of Deterioration” framework has been a backbone of museum preservation internationally for more than 30 years, this is the first resource to tailor the guidelines for Alaskan institutions, and anyone with precious items.
Remarkably easy to read, it provides not only care guidelines and how to troubleshoot issues, but the rationale behind the guidelines. Understanding the logic of museum techniques can help all of us strategize effective solutions to preserve our material culture.
These recommendations are based on decades of practical experience, and hundreds of information requests fielded by the conservator. One of many ways that the Alaska State Museum serves the public is by providing advice and expertise on the care of Alaskan collections. From things as obscure as Integrated Pest Management to whether heat pumps are a decent solution for controlling humidity, there’s something here for everyone interested in preserving objects. While these guidelines target our museum community across the state, these fundamentals can help preserve family heirlooms too. The “Alaskan Agents of Deterioration” free resource will be available starting in January 2021 and can be found on the Alaska State Museum website in the Collections section: https://museums.alaska.gov/collections.html
Questions about museum conservation are always welcome. Contact conservator Ellen Carrlee at (907) 465-2396 or email her at ellen.carrlee@alaska.gov.
Media Contact:
Patience Frederiksen
Director
907.465.2911
patience.frederiksen@alaska.gov
lam.alaska.gov
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