Like so many other natural history institutions, the Non-Live Collections held within the Virginia Living Museum is an important part of the institution’s identity and a core component in furthering the Museum’s mission. Simply having these specimens is not enough, however; these specimens also need to be properly cataloged, stored, maintained, and exhibited. With over 25,000 specimens in the VLM’s Non-Live Collections, this can be a daunting (but rewarding) task. This task falls squarely on the Non-Live Collections Manager and a dedicated group of Collections volunteers. Read on to get a glimpse of some of the challenges of collections maintenance and how the VLM Collections team meets these challenges head-on.
A “Toxic Work Environment”
Constant monitoring of the environmental conditions in collections storage spaces is crucial to the continued existence and use of collections specimens. This is especially the case at the VLM given the wide variety of specimen and material types present within the Collections.
High temperatures can cause issues for certain specimens: residual fats in waterfowl mounts can “melt” and stain the specimen while fluids in “wet” (fluid-preserved) specimen containers evaporate more quickly. Similarly, extremes in relative humidity can also cause problems: high humidity can encourage mold and mildew growth whereas low humidity can cause cracking and breakage in taxidermy hide and deterioration in certain types of ambers.
Light (visible, ultraviolet, and infrared) is also a source of specimen damage. Prolonged exposure will result in discoloration (e.g., fading, yellowing, etc.) and, in biological specimens, the breakdown of certain organic compounds resulting in those specimens becoming weaker and more brittle.
Even the presence of oxygen can be harmful for certain specimens. Specimens rich in pyrite, an iron sulfide mineral, can break down over time when the pyrite reacts to moisture and oxygen in the air. This chemical reaction not only results in the creation of harmful acids and gases but also causes physical deterioration and eventual destruction of the specimen. A similar reaction called “Byne’s disease” often occurs in objects made of calcium carbonate (e.g., eggshells, mollusk shells, etc.) stored in wooden or wood-derived materials: the materials produce an acidic vapor which reacts with the calcium carbonate and forms salts, destroying the object’s outer surface.
At the VLM, these environmental conditions are closely monitored and regulated through the use of environmental monitoring systems, heating/cooling systems, and humidifying/dehumidifying equipment. Specimens are stored in archival-quality storage containers to prevent unwanted chemical reactions. Fluid levels in “wet” specimens are regularly monitored and more fluid is added when required. When not in use, the Non-Live Collections are kept in the dark to help prevent any further light damage (and it’s great for the environment too!).
All’s Well That Mends Well
The VLM is not a repository for scientifically important specimens and our Non-Live Collections serve more as a teaching collection than a research collection. This more “hands-on” use of our specimens occasionally results in physical damage. Cracks, breaks, and other forms of mechanical damage are an inevitability when using specimens in this way. Luckily, there are a lot of tools and techniques we can use to repair our specimens.
Given that most of the physical damage we see with our specimens can be fixed by sticking a few pieces back together, adhesives are some of our most commonly employed tools. Glues of different types, strengths, and viscosities are often used to adhere pieces together and fill in small gaps; larger gaps might require the use of an epoxy putty. Specimens in boxes or cases might need tape along their edges to both protect the container and to prevent the container from being easily opened. Some specimens are held together with wire and others are supported by thread or fishing line, so it helps to have those materials on hand as well.
Preventing Pesky Problems
Not all of our collections maintenance is reactive: we also try to prevent damage whenever possible. Dust and debris can pose problems for specimens; in addition to making objects look unpleasant, dust can be abrasive, adhesive, and a delicious food source for mold and pests. We regularly clean our specimens at the VLM using dusters, cloths, and vacuums as well as small brushes and cotton swabs for finer detail work.
Pests can also be a big problem for museum collections, especially for those with organic materials and/or biological specimens. Insects and small mammals can make their way into a museum’s collections and destroy specimens by eating them (and sometimes their storage containers!) and expelling their waste. The VLM uses a multifaceted approach called “integrated pest management” to identify and contain pest occurrences before they become full-blown infestations. This includes careful, regular monitoring of both specimens and the Collections/exhibit spaces themselves, removal of any pest attractants (food and water) from Collections spaces, insect traps, and regular low-temperature treatment of both new acquisitions and accessioned specimens.
Nothing Lasts Forever (but We’ll Do Our Best!)
As you can see, there is a lot that goes into the preservation and care of the specimens in the VLM’s Non-Live Collections. The hard work undertaken by the VLM Collections team is so much more than simply cleaning old specimens mounted on walls or tucked away in drawers: it is preserving the past to inform our present and protect our future. By keeping our Collections specimens in good condition, we can continue to use them to connect people to nature for many years to come.
Come Experience Our Collections
With over 25,000 specimens in the Non-Live Collections, there’s always something new to see and experience at the Virginia Living Museum. Check in regularly to see what’s new on display!
Visit our Collections to learn more about all of the amazing objects we have both on display and housed within our Non-Live Collections spaces.
Join us for a Mastodon Talk to learn about one of the most impressive specimens in our Collections: the Hart-Fiscella Mastodon!
