What Happens When an Artifact is Donated?

     Did you ever wonder what happens to an artifact when it is donated to a museum?  Who decides if the artifact belongs in the museum’s permanent collection?  What happens if the museum can’t use that artifact?

     Most museums have a mission statement which states the museum’s goals in collecting.  They can be a bit subjective though, so usually donated artifacts must be approved by the museum’s Board of Directors.  In the case of my museum, donated artifacts are first considered by the Accession Committee.  They consider whether the artifacts fall within the museum’s mission statement, whether the artifacts can be suitably cared for by the museum, and whether the artifacts would duplicate items already in the collection.  The committee’s recommendations are then sent to the Board for approval. 

     Let’s follow a few donated items through the process to see what happens to them.  We’ll look at a medical field case, a brass suppository mold (which you may recognize from an earlier post!), and a clay ink well, which were all donated in the past several months.  See if you can predict whether these items will be accepted for the collection.

This is a leather U.S. Army Surgeon’s Field Case, sometimes called a Surgeon’s Companion. This case was designed to carry small bottles of medicine and some basic medical supplies onto the battlefield. It had two straps and was designed to be suspended by a shoulder strap while being supported by a waist strap. The surgeon could carry this case, but usually it was carried by the person assisting the surgeon. In this instance, it was a hospital steward.

 

The case contains a label which lists the contents. The bottom line states that the whiskey contained in one of the tins could be discolored by the metal, but that it did not affect the medicinal qualities. Based on some of the accounts I’ve read, if the soldiers were offered whiskey, I don’t think they were too concerned about any color change!

In this photo, you can see the “US” embossed on one of the medicine containers from the field case.

This is a photo of the owner of the field case, Hospital Steward Jacob Tomer, 3^rd PA Cavalry. It is always more exciting to have an artifact with an identified owner!

     As you might expect, it all starts with paperwork!  The artifact donor signs a Deed of Gift which transfers ownership of the artifact to the museum.  In return, they receive a letter thanking them for their gift and acknowledging it for tax purposes (artifact donations for the museum collection are tax deductible!).  I then start a file for the item, and enter it on the museum’s data base as a “Temporary Custody”.  If there is any information about the past owners of an artifact, as with the Hospital Steward listed above, I pass that along to our Researcher.  She searches for any additional information which we add to our files.

Here is the brass suppository mold again. Though it is similar to molds from the Civil War, it was eventually determined that this particular mold was from after the Civil War.

     Each artifact is examined carefully, assigned a number, photographed, measured, tagged, and put into the quarantine area.  If it is here for more than a month without any signs of pests or other issues, it can be moved into a temporary storage area in the collection room.   

This is a Civil War era glazed clay ink well which was donated as part of a collection of Civil War medical items. Though it may not appear to be medically relevant at first, consider that the surgeons and care-givers had to fill out paperwork relating to the wounded soldiers.

     The Accession Committee is made up of four members of the museum’s Board of Directors and me.  We meet once a year to vote on the artifacts donated since the previous meeting.  In most cases it is a pretty obvious decision, but we do have discussions about some items.  If an item is in poor condition, we must determine if we want to take on the responsibility of preserving it.  If we have duplicate items in the collection, we discuss if the proposed artifact is unique in any way and if it would enhance the collection.  Sometimes there are questions about the relevance to the museum’s mission which must be resolved.  Also, on occasion we will accept items which are part of a collection, for example a collection of a Civil War Surgeon’s personal items.  Some of these items might not normally be accepted individually, but have relevance as a part of the collection.   

     The committee also makes recommendations regarding the artifacts which are not accepted into our collection.  Items may be returned to their donor, transferred to the museum’s Education Department for use in their outreach programs, used as props in the exhibits, given or traded to other museums, or sold to benefit the museum.   

     So, what do you think happened to the items listed above?  It’s probably no surprise that a medical field case which is identified to a Hospital Steward is definitely relevant to a museum focusing on Civil War medicine!  It was very happily accepted for accession into the collection.  The suppository mold was rejected because it was post-war, and it was given to the museum’s Education Department.  The clay ink well caused a little more discussion.  Though it was relevant, it was a duplicate of one we have in the collection.  It was not unique in any way, and it was decided that we were unlikely to need it for display.  It will be offered to another museum.

     Now I start the process of changing the status of the artifacts which were accepted from “Temporary Custody” to “Accessioned” on the data base.  I will also label them and find storage spaces for them in the collection room.  I will save the details of that process for another post though!

Photos courtesy of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine

An Army Surgeon's Tent

     People often ask me what the most unique artifact in the museum is.  I have to admit that it is difficult to name just one item!  One that always makes it on my list seems to surprise people at first though.  It’s a tent.  A tent just doesn’t seem very unique…. until you learn its story.

This wall tent is the only known surviving example of a Civil War Surgeon’s tent. It is made of army duck and measures 13 ft. high, 9 ft. wide, and 13 ft. long.

     Not only is this the only known Civil War surgeon's tent, it is identified to the specific surgeon!  The tent in the photo above belonged to Surgeon John Wiley of the 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry.  The 6th took part in many major battles including the Peninsula Campaign, Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg.  More information on the 6th Regiment can be found here.

Here's a photo of Dr. Wiley in his uniform.

     Surgeon Wiley used this tent from 1862 to 1864.  After his discharge, he took it home with him to Cape May, NJ, where it stayed in his family for many years.  It was acquired by a collector in 1988.  After he had displayed it at various Civil War events, he loaned it and other artifacts of Wiley’s to the NMCWM.  They are currently on display in the Camp Life gallery.

The additional artifacts which belonged to Surgeon Wiley were placed in a separate display. Seen here are a mahogany writing box containing pens, a pen case, and an ink well; images of Surgeon Wiley in his uniform, and of his wife and daughter; a Geo. Tiemann & Co. leather pocket surgical kit, a book titled Handbook of Surgical Operations which is signed by Wiley; and my favorite, a tintype of Surgeon Wiley’s horse. I imagine it must have been an exceptional horse to have its own picture!

     Displaying an artifact of this size can be a bit of a challenge.  The tent is displayed in one of the museum’s immersion exhibits, so it is not enclosed in a display case.  Instead, it is placed behind physical barriers to keep visitors more than an arm’s length away from it.  Further protection is provided by a motion sensor, a video camera, and the museum’s alarm system.   The tent is also supported on a wooden frame covered in unbleached muslin cloth, which helps to distribute the weight of the tent more evenly.  Of course, the gallery is climate controlled, the light levels are controlled, and I monitor carefully for other potential hazards.

Here you can see the frame which supports the tent.

These are the original poles for the tent. We do not use these in the display, because they would stretch the tent too tightly and cause the fabric to distort or tear. Even though the tent pole in the display is a reproduction, I think we’ve made a wise compromise in order to best protect the tent while it is on display.

     Dr. Wiley’s tent may not be as unique as some of the surgical instruments in the museum, but given its history it certainly deserves its place on my list.




Photos courtesy of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine


Wiley artifacts are from the collection of Gordon Dammann, D.D.S.

A Busman's Holiday

     I went on vacation with my family to Philadelphia for a few days last week, and what did I do?  I visited museums!  Although I love going to museums, I always feel like I need to go through them twice.  I need one trip through to view the museum as a regular visitor, and another trip to look for different display methods, mounts, lighting, monitoring devices, and labels.  I'm always looking for new ideas!

    

     Since we were in Philadelphia during the week of July 4th, we had to visit Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were adopted.  The Liberty Bell once hung in its bell tower, but now it has its own display in a building across the street.  I was glad that building had glass walls so I could get a glimpse of the Liberty Bell.  The line to get inside was always very long!
 

While I protect the artifacts inside my museum building, dealing with an historic building presents additional issues. The building itself needs protection from the elements and the constant stream of visitors. Note the barriers along the street, which keep both pedestrians and traffic away from the building. There were security guards posted near the building as well, to keep people on the correct side of the fence!

Here’s a view of the interior of Independence Hall.  The large windows are good for letting in lots of natural light. While this is good in order to view the museum, it is not so good for the wood and paint of the interior. I would strongly suspect that these windows are equipped with UV-filtering films, which block most of the ultraviolet radiation that can cause damage.  

 

     

     We also stopped at the Free Quaker Meeting House and saw a Living History performance by a gentleman portraying a Free Quaker of the period.  We learned that Betsy Ross had attended meetings there!  We visited the Betsy Ross House as well.  It was very interesting and informative, but photography was not allowed.  It is understandable though.  The light from hundreds of visitors taking photographs using a flash can cause damage to artifacts. 

I had to chuckle at this sign on the door of the Free Quaker Meeting House! Old buildings can present challenges such as this.

  

     While we were walking through the Historic District, we happened upon the National Liberty Museum and decided to take a look inside.  It is a unique blend of the concepts of liberty and heroes, along with history and art.  There are some amazing pieces of glass artwork on display, as well as a 9/11 flag signed by some of the first responders, and a recreation of the attic where Anne Frank was hidden.  I was surprised to see that some of the artwork was not behind glass or any other protective barrier.  I suppose some of it is meant to be touched by the visitors, but that’s a concept that makes me a little nervous in my museum!

 

The National Liberty Museum knows how to make an entrance! This is the first piece you see when starting your tour, and it definitely makes you want to see more of the museum.

I like the way they use mirrors in this display, so that visitors can see the entire object. It does make photographing it a little tricky though!

     My favorite visit was to The Mütter Museum, where we were treated to a tour by the museum’s Director, Dr. Robert Hicks.  The Mütter is a medical museum which is probably best known for its collection of medical oddities.  On display were many skeletons, pathological samples (including a giant colon), some very realistic wax models of various diseases, samples of items people have swallowed (lots of safety pins!), a corpse called the Soap Lady, a cast of the original Siamese twins Chang and Eng, and antique medical instruments.  Dr. Hicks and the museum’s Curator Anna Dhody also showed us some of the interesting sights behind the scenes in the library, the collection room, the wet room where samples preserved in various fluid-filled jars are stored, and the bone room which obviously houses bones and skeletons!  As with several of the museums we toured, photography was not allowed inside the museum.  Fortunately, you can take a peek at part of their collection here:  Mutter Museum video 

I was at least able to take a picture of the entryway!

     Outside the Mütter Museum is a Medicinal Plant Garden, which features plants that can be used for various medicinal purposes.  I enjoyed comparing it to the medicinal garden out at the Pry House Field Hospital Museum.  I think I may have a couple of ideas to pass along to its gardener!

One plant featured in the garden is Stachys lanata, which is also known as Woolly Betony or Lamb’s Ears. The leaves are very soft and can be used as bandages.

The garden was a peaceful, pretty spot to relax for a while.

 

     While I would recommend visits to any of the museums I have mentioned here, you don’t have to travel to Philadelphia to enjoy a museum visit.  If you can’t travel far, I encourage you to visit and support any nearby museums.  You will probably be pleasantly surprised at what you can find in your local area.



Photos courtesy of Lori Eggleston

Trephination

     Most people associate Civil War medicine with amputations and saws.  There were a lot of amputations performed when bones in the arms or legs were shattered, and in most cases it was the best method of treatment they had.  But what happened to the soldiers who suffered skull fractures?  Amputation would not be a good treatment in this case!

     Civil War surgeons would have reached for their trephining (or trepanning) kit.  Trephining is a procedure in which a cylindrical saw-like instrument called a trephine is used to cut a hole into the skull in order to relieve pressure on the brain or remove a blood clot.  This is a procedure which predates the Civil War.  In the Middle Ages it was used as a remedy for headaches, seizures, and “evil spirits”.  Some prehistoric human skulls have even been found with evidence of trephining.  



This is a diagram of a trepanning kit from an 1860 Snowden & Brother catalog (Philadelphia) which lists the instruments that were contained in the kit. Take a look at those prices too!



     

     The scalpel would be used first to cut a flap of skin from the area.  Next the trephine would be used to cut a hole in the bone.  Many trephines have a spike (identified as the "sliding centre" in the diagram) which was used to hold the instrument in place while it was rotated. 

    

This trephine is actually made in two parts. The wooden handle is removable and can be used with trephines of different sizes. The small round handle on the metal shaft is used to control the depth of the spike inside the blade.

Here you can see the spike that was used to anchor the blade in place.

     Another instrument which was used to reduce skull fractures was a Hey's saw.  It has a double-edged blade with one flat side and one curved side.  Once you've seen one, you'll easily recognize other Hey's saws.





The Hey’s saw was named after an English surgeon, William Hey.

A small bone brush was used to remove any bone dust produced by the saws. This one has a wooden handle and natural bristles.

Next an instrument called an elevator was used to raise or remove the portions of bone which were putting pressure on the brain. 

     Some symptoms of pressure on the brain from a skull fracture which have been noted in case studies are loss of consiousness, convulsions, headache, nausea, paralysis, and confusion.  In some cases, the symptoms would disappear shortly after a trephination.  Overall though, there was a pretty high mortality rate for these patients; less than half of them survived the procedure.

     If you are curious you can read about some actual trephining cases from the Civil War here: 
http://www.braceface.com/medical/Civil_War_Articles/Trephining_during_Civil_War.htm

    

     Though I would love to be able to purchase a trephining kit for the museum at the Civil War era prices listed above, it appears that price would only get me the following item:

     I wonder what a Civil War surgeon would have thought of this....

     Photos courtesy of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine

 

   

Artifact Conservation

     While I do the minor cleaning and repairs needed for the artifacts in the museum’s collection, there are jobs which are beyond my abilities.  A professional conservator is required in these cases.

    I would first like to clarify that there is a difference between conservation and restoration.  The goal of restoration is usually to bring an object back to its original appearance.  The goal of conservation is bring the artifact back to a stable condition.  Though improving the appearance of the artifact can be one of the objectives, it is not the main one.  In some cases, conservation of an artifact can result in leaving evidence of wear, or other “imperfections”.  Preserving the artifact and its history is the main goal here, not appearance.  Additionally, unlike restoration, any conservation work done is reversible.

     We are very fortunate at the NMCWM to have a volunteer who is a retired conservator and who can occasionally donate his time and talents in working on some of our artifacts.  He was recently able to stablize a surgeon's leather field case for us.  It was affected with red rot, and was displaying the characteristic powdery-red surface and weakened areas.      

    

This is the field case before treatment. You can see a reddish tinge to it. Not visible in the photo are small salt crystals on the surface of the leather. The straps were very thin and brittle. Even when I handled it very carefully, my white gloves would turn red where they contacted the leather.

Here is Spencer working on the case. He carefully removed the crystals from the leather and treated it with a consolidant called Cellugel which is absorbed into the leather and dries very quickly. He then applied a colored shoewax to the exterior surface.

The case not only looks much better, but it is now stronger and less brittle. Though the red rot did do some damage, the case has now been stabilized. 

     Another artifact which had professional conservation work done on it is the commission pictured below.  The document was in fair condition when it was acquired.  It was somewhat yellowed and faded and had some surface dirt, and it had been stored folded for many years.  The document was weak along all the fold lines, and one segment was completely detached.

This is a commission for Lt. John Henry Dye, 25^th PA Infantry. He drafted maps for the Battle of Gettysburg. We have this document because his wife, Clarissa Jones Dye, was a Civil War nurse. You can see that the document is yellowed and in two pieces.

This detail photo shows damage along fold lines. This is a good reason to store paper items flat and unfolded!

     The commission was sent to Cleveland Conservation of Art on Paper.  The conservator reported the treatment as follows:  The surface of the paper was cleaned in the non-image areas, using grated polyvinyl eraser crumbs.  The paper was immersed in deionized water conditioned to a pH of 8.0.  As a result, the paper became lighter in color and the acidic content was lowered.  The back of the paper was sprayed with a very light alkaline reserve spray of magnesium oxide.  This will help to keep the acidic content of the paper lower.  The tears were mended and the weak folds were reinforced with kizukishi conservation paper and zin shofu wheat starch adhesive.  And finally, the document was placed in a stable, archival quality paper folder, which will allow the gradual migration of acids out of the document and into the folder paper while it is in storage.

As you can see in this photo, the document is now in much better condition than when we received it, and is much better preserved for the future.

     It is amazing what can be done for these artifacts!  It is fascinating to me, and I have to admit that if I had to pick another career, I’d definitely look into the conservation field.

Photos courtesy of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine

A Visit to Clara Barton’s House

     A few days ago I was able to visit the Clara Barton National Historic Site in Glen Echo, Maryland.  I was pleased to be able to tour the site, but I also enjoyed getting a closer look at some of the artifacts.  I was there with some coworkers to look at artifacts which we may be able to borrow, and some which we will try to reproduce.  We will be adding a Clara Barton display to our main museum, and of course we are working on opening Clara Barton’s Missing Soldiers Office.  While we do have artifacts which were found in her Missing Soldiers Office that we can display, these additional artifacts should allow us to tell a more complete story of her life and work.

This is the house that was Clara Barton’s residence for the last 15 years of her life. It also served as the first permanent headquarters of the American Red Cross.

 

I liked this image of Clara Barton that was taken later in her life. You can see another image of her in the background, from her younger days.

Those are stained glass windows in the doors. There’s no doubt that Clara was (rightfully) proud of her work!

  

Here’s an artifact that ties in to the Missing Soldier’s Office. I did make sure to get permission before I photographed any artifacts!

More Red Cross stained glass! This set looks out from the top floor of the house.

     We were able to examine several items which were out on display, and then we were taken upstairs to look at some artifacts in storage.  When the curator pulled out a book listing the Union soldiers buried at Andersonville Prison, I had to take a closer look.  This time it was personal.  My great-great-great grandfather died there.  So, I took the opportunity to look up his name.

Here it is, C.B. Seeley of the 15^thNY Cavalry, died Oct. 24, 1864 of scorbutus. Scorbutus is another term for scurvy, a condition caused by a deficiency of vitamin C. It is a cause of death listed for many Andersonville inmates, which is not surprising considering that they suffered a deficiency of food overall.

     We also saw a period dress bodice, nicknamed “The Traveling Bodice” since it is designated for going out on loan to other institutions.  Notice in the photo that the bodice is padded with acid-free tissue, to prevent creases from forming in the fabric, and that there are rolled pieces of tissue along the exterior to keep it from shifting in the box.  These rolled segments of tissue paper are sometimes referred to as “sausages”. 

The bodice is packed well for storage and for transport, with a sturdy box, a foam form, cloth straps, and lots of tissue paper!

It’s always good to have handling and packing instructions for loaned items. 

     It was a fascinating visit!  The next step now is to consult with my coworkers to determine which items we want to request to borrow.  We certainly saw many of them that we’d like!

Photos courtesy of the Clara Barton National Historic Site.

A Civil War Preventative

     I’ve posted previously about dealing with a moth infestation on my first day on the job at the museum.  My second day on the job was memorable as well.  I’d gotten a quick look at the collection room the previous day, but I wanted to get a closer look at the artifacts stored there.  It was partly to ensure that the moths hadn’t infiltrated the collection room, but mostly because I was curious about the artifacts!  So I started opening drawers.  The contents of the very first drawer I opened caused me to do a double-take though.  I had to check the label to be certain that it was what it appeared to be.  It really was a Civil War era condom! 

This condom is made of sheep or goat skin. The thin ribbon across the top was not used to tie it in place, but added stability and helped to prevent the condom from splitting.

     By the 1860s, animal skin and rubber condoms, sometimes called “preventatives” or “French letters”, were available for use.  Typically they were used to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.  Syphilis and gonorrhea were common in both armies during the Civil War.  However, this condom was accompanied by a circular which also touted its use for married couples as a birth control device.

The paper circular from Mr. De Young regarding condoms for sale at his store in Philadelphia. It explains the nature of condoms and the reasons for their use, but with more emphasis on birth control than disease prevention.

 

     Sex was not a topic which was discussed openly at that time, so it is interesting to note the language and euphemisms used in the circular.  You can see how carefully he words his description, “…as to the nature of the article, they are called CUNDUMNS, or Preventatives; they are used for a private purpose by males when having intercourse with the opposite sex.  The object in using them is as follows:  Single young men use them to prevent themselves from becoming diseased when having intercourse with women of a public character…” 

     He continues and points out the merits of using them as contraceptives, “…but where I sell one for the above purpose, I sell a hundred for domestic use, for the husband to use with his wife…  Indeed, all wives when they become acquainted with this article, they become strong advocates for the husband to use the preventative with them, and they certainly show their good sense in doing so, for the wife saves her own health, and can have just as many children as they can comfortably raise, and need not have any more than they think fit.”

     Being a good salesman, he then lists the price, “$3.00 per single paper or dozen.  Also on hand Yarners or Ticklers, at $3.00 per dozen.”  That was a bit pricey for the time, which may explain why it is reported that sometimes condoms were washed and reused!  Surprisingly though, they did appear to be effective at preventing the transmission of diseases.

     Displaying the condom presented some challenges.  The animal skin is delicate and very prone to damage from light, heat, and relative humidity (RH) at both ends of the spectrum.  A high RH can promote the growth of mold or mildew, while a low RH can dry out the skin and cause it to shrink or crack.  I had to ensure that the conditions in its display would be appropriate for it. 

     There was also some apprehension about the public’s reaction to a condom on display.  I had several conversations with the museum’s director about the pros and cons of displaying it, and how to most appropriately display it.  In the meantime, it went out on short-term loans twice, which gave us a chance to gauge the reaction to it.  The displays in both venues, Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial in Arlington, VA, and the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA, had positive reviews.

Here are the condom and circular on display at the National Civil War Museum in 2009. Currently they are on display at my museum, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

Photo courtesy of the National Civil War Museum.

     Ultimately, we felt that that the condom did help to tell the story of the Civil War soldiers, and was in line with the museum’s mission of preserving the legacy of Civil War medical innovation.  We did put it in one of the higher cases though, so that it is not in obvious view of our youngest museum visitors.

     So I guess the lesson this week is to be careful which drawer you open!

Photos courtesy of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, except where otherwise noted.