Collection History
Fig.1. Cleaning an Ann Axtell Morris watercolor on paper
The Peabody Museum’s archival collection of historic maps and drawings dates to the 1840s and is associated with the Museum’s object collections and historic archaeological fieldwork.
The collection of hand-painted drawings and site plans were created by illustrators, archaeologists, university faculty, and students. Notable archaeologists represented through these documents include Samuel K. Lothrop, Charles Willoughby, Ernest Volk, John O. Brew, and Alfred V. Kidder. Artists and architects such as Jean Charlot, Ann A. Morris, Antonio F. Tejeda, Adela Breton, and Penrose Davis as well as number of prominent Mayanists including Sylvanus G. Morley, Gustav Stromsvik, Tatiana Proskouriakoff, and Ian Graham contributed to the Museum’s important archaeological site representations.
Fig. 2. Storage conditions prior to 2007 and Tracing of the Temple of the Jaguar, Chichen Itza (#62-11-20/75035.1.323.1-.29) before treatment
Collection Condition and Preservation
From the late 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, the museums oversized historic maps and field drawings were stored in tightly packed non-archival metal flat files or in makeshift acidic cardboard boxes with minimal arrangement and description. This situation hindered research, teaching, and public use.
Over the years, several concerted efforts by Museum staff contributed to improved organization and preservation. To realize safe and full access and preservation for these documents, additional funds, staff and a proper workspace were needed. In 2007 a room was re-purposed to serve as the new enlarged research and storage room for the map collection, and was retrofitted with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).
A grant proposal was submitted to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the Museum was pleased to learn in 2009 that it was awarded $150,000 to implement this project. This funding allowed the museum to hire additional staff and order necessary supplies and materials.
Project Results
The Archives record-keeping for this project included applying a number to each document and creating a database record in its collections management database (The Museum System [TMS]) prior to conducting conservation treatment work.
At the conclusion of the project, more than 5,204 new database records were created; 4,449 individual items were conserved; 6,691 were re-housed with a total of 6,959 processed documents.
Fig..3. Assistant Meg Rampton cleans soiled paper-based documents.
The grant supported the professional development of two conservation interns, and one archives summer intern, who participated in treatment, and re-housing activities and learned how to identify printing and image reproduction processes.
At the end of the project, the archival collections were more accessible and safely stored in the new storage workroom. We were able to display some of the newly conserved Ann Axell Morris watercolors to highlight the project.
Fig..4. New storage area
Fig..5. Installation of Ann Axtell Morris watercolors
For further information on the Peabody Museum’s preservation project, please see the article in Collections: A Journal of Museum and Archives Professionals (volume 7 number 3 Summer 2011).