Archival and Preservation Tips

Here is a screenshot of a catalog record using CatalogIt software. Can you see the vast difference between this and Excel? Which one is better suited for supporting a well-documented collection?

The Importance of a Well-Documented Private Collection: Part 3, Software

The Importance of a Well-Documented Private Collection: Part 3 The last two weeks we’ve discussed the importance of a well-documented private collection, and this week we’re g…

This 1808 illustration of Christie's auction rooms makes you wonder what sort of documentation they provided with their sales. Buying items at auction has been going on for a very long time, and this picture from over 200 years ago really reinforces how we are just one small part of an object's total history. Image Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Importance of a Well-Documented Collection: Part 2, Purchased Items

The Importance of a Well-Documented Collection: Part 2, Purchased Items Last week’s post left you with some instructions to take a cursory look at your collection. Where and w…

The bundle of old photos is a great example of a pile of history that has lost its context. Without the information of who these people were, this stack of at one time significant memories, becomes nearly worthless as it is reduced to just photographs. A well-documented collection can help prevent that.

The Importance of a Well-Documented Private Collection: Part 1

The Importance of a Well-Documented Private Collection: Part 1 I have discussed the importance of cataloging your collection over the course of a few blog posts in the past,…

Notice how this soldier's letter has torn along the crease where it was originally folded over 150 years ago. Storing it flat and unfolded could have prevented the additional strain on the crease that caused that damage.

How to Store Historical Documents

How to Store Historical Documents This week while scanning some Civil War letters I ran across damage that I’ve seen all too often with old documents that have been folded. T…

Here is one of the first newspaper bookmarks we found in this Civil War clothing ledger. You can see more scraps of newspaper further into the book. Our angry archivist was not happy to find these....

Angry Archivist: Newspaper Bookmarks

Angry Archivist: Newspaper Bookmarks This week, we were scanning new material to add to our Research Arsenal database. This is always fun because you never know what historic…

Two pieces of rolled up Scotch tape on the back of this historic document were stuck together when it was folded in half. It discolored the original paper and also left behind a sticky residue.

Angry Archivist: Disappointments of the Week

Angry Archivist: Disappointments of the Week This week, we spent a day scanning and cataloging new material for the database, and unfortunately, I found some Angry Archivist…

Here is an example of an exhibit gallery using very low lighting. This is at the Met and you can see how the artifacts are in nearly total darkness and lit only dimly. This is helping to preserve the colors and overall condition of the works while still allowing visitors to see them. Often these galleries have motion sensors and the lights do not turn on until someone walks in.

Safe Lighting for Exhibiting Your Collection

Illuminating the Past Without Destroying It: Safe Lighting for Exhibiting Your Collection When we walk into a museum or gallery, the first thing we often notice is the light….

This photograph from the National WWII Museum shows collections boxes stored on Space Saver shelving, in archival boxes, and properly tagged with archival tags. Notice the staff member is also handling the poster with gloves while is fully supported so that it doesn't bend and tear. Image source: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/20-years-collecting-wwii-artifacts

Collection Preservation Tips From The National WWII Museum

Collection Preservation Tips from The National WWII Museum Although the National WWII Museum is a bit further forward in time than Civil War collectors, the concept of…

This is a screenshot of a TikTok video I found that shows a Civil War uniform exhibited on a mannequin that is too large. Notice how it cannot be fully buttoned. By buttoning the top two buttons, you can see the stress put on the garment because those two buttons are trying to hold the whole thing together. This is an example of why it is important to use a mannequin that fits your garment, and why it's better to work with one that's on the slightly too small side and pad it up.

8 Tips for Displaying Historic Clothing at Home

For private collectors, historic garments are not just beautiful objects — they’re tangible connections to the past. Displaying them at home allows you to share their stories …

Here you can see a number of pages that have been cut out of the ledger to be sold separately.

Angry Archivist: Cutting Up History

Angry Archivist: Cutting Up History Don’t you love it when you sit down to read through a historic book and someone has cut pages out of it? Isn’t that wonderful? No? I did…

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