Short
Line 101 Restoration 
Training
Courses
Conservation
Visitors often wonder who does the preservation work for the Museum. All
preservation and conservation projects are done under direction of the
Conservation Manager, however, much of the actual work may be done by
volunteers. If an artifact is to be operated, it may require the replacement
of original parts with new ones. New parts may not be appropriate if
restoration is for exhibit only. In most cases, the more original an
artifact is, the more valuable it is for historical purposes. For example, a
phonograph which is operable but has minor scratches on the wooden cabinet
is more desirable as an artifact than one that has been refinished.
Preventive maintenance is emphasized by the Conservation Program. To
reduce deterioration, temperature and humidity fluctuations must be kept to
a minimum. Conservators advise on care and handling methods for artifacts.
They recommend what materials are safe for use in conservation, and they
decide to what extent treatment will take place on an artifact. For example,
should an artifact appear as it did when it was last used, or should it
appear as it did when it was new? An artifact does not have to look pretty
to be historically important, although this is often what the visitor
expects. The Curatorial Centre in Saskatoon provides safe environments for a
wide cross section of artifacts - from steam traction engines to wooden
trunks to silk handkerchiefs. If early treatment can reduce deterioration,
much of the need for extensive preservation in the future can be eliminated.
Conservation Projects
Conservation Case Study - Liquor
Permit
Work was performed on an 1891 Northwest Territories Liquor permit originally signed by then Lieutenant Governor of the North
West
Territories, Joseph Royal.
Conservation Case Study - Auto Parts
Catalogue
A number of documents in the George Shepherd
Library of the WDM are machinery parts catalogues
used in machine shops for decades. To enable the library to use these
resources, layers of
soot must be removed without damaging the underlying paper substrate. A
system of removing the soot was developed and is outlined here.
Short Line 101 Restoration
Restoring a Vulcan 0-4-0 locomotive.
Conservation Links
Canadian
Conservation Institute, Preserving My Heritage
A help guide for individuals wanting more information on how to preserve their personal treasures.
United States
National Parks Service
Reference materials for museums of all sizes for the care and management of artifacts and museums.
Museum Association of Saskatchewan - Encapsulation
A quick how-to on encapsulating materials as the alternative to lamination.
Museum Association of Saskatchewan - Spring Preparations
What have you done (and are going to do) to ensure that your museum building and collections are protected from the spring melt?
Association of Nova Scotia Museums
Downloadable forms for collection care and museum management.
Post secondary programs:
Fleming College; Collections, Conservation and Management Program
Graduate Programs:
Queen’s University; Art
History and Art Conservation
Ryerson
University; Photographic Preservation and Collections Management
Conservation Associations:
Canadian Association for the Conservation of Cultural Property
You might also be interested in:
Curatorial
Centre - Collections Department
Short
Line 101 Vulcan 0-4-0 Locomotive Restoration
Articles
about artifacts from the WDM Collection
