Collections
Management
This class taught by UWG with the Atlanta History Center students the proper procedures for caring for collections and individual artifacts. Students were also given insight into how museums acquire collections from members of the public and archaeological surveys, incorporate the artifacts into exhibits, and maintain a cataloging system. Click the links below to see my class assignments on data entry, an essay on the accession process and a preventative care brief.
Students were taught how to use the museum database software, Past Perfect, and entered data about an object each student was assigned to catalog. See my entry about t-shirts from the National Black Arts Festival.
Would you sell a valuable historic collection so the bills could be paid? It might not be as easy an answer as you would think. Check out my essay on the ethics of selling collections to cover expenses.
How do collections end up in a museum? I got a little creative in outlining the journey between acquisition and exhibition. Check it out here!
How does one best take care of an artifact? Each object is different and requires a different procedure so that the public can enjoy the object longer. Click here to find out how to best take care of bone and ivory.