Reference from Joy Todd, Vice President of the Pleasant Valley Historical Society Museum in Camarillo, CA
October 10, 2018
Elizabeth Burton worked with the Pleasant Valley Museum for about 6 months in 2018 conducting environmental analysis and employing various elements of collections care.
She did a complete analysis of the interior of the museum with special attention to natural light on the collection. She also tested relative humidity of our space, which she found was greatly impacted by the number of visitors in the museum at a time. At her direction we applied a UV protection coating on the windows and moved items that were compromised. She tested temperature and checked for dust and damage to all items in our collection. Her testing was done over a period of time and included different times of the day. We now have a complete analysis of the interior environment of our spaces.
As a result of her interior analysis we found carpet beetles. She discovered a carpet beetle infestation in a cabinet by noticing fresh wood shavings on the glass shelves. We were able to eliminate them in the wood display. They were also found in a taxidermy display of birds that was labeled 1892. We took the birds out of the display and were able to date them as around 1940, because of the plastic eyes. Her research led us to the process of removing the beetles from the birds. It was a slow process removing the remaining carcass from each bird, but they are now on display. Elizabeth removed each carcass with tweezers before we froze the birds to kill any live bugs. We rebuilt their box and were able to save the old bubble glass that is on the front. The purchase of taxidermy reindeer moss and other archival and safe materials has brought the display “back to life” so to say. The display is sealed with a silicon product to further protect it from future infestations.
Elizabeth researched and directed all the preservation and protection for our collection. In many cases, no one realizes the challenges that brought items in our collection to their current quality of viewing. Elizabeth left full reports on all she did and took time to teach us how to do some of the work ourselves so we are able to independently care for the collection in the future.
Vice President, Pleasant Valley Historical Society Museum
Joy Todd
CALL: (805) 482-3660
Email: pvhBill@gmail.com
October 10, 2018
Elizabeth Burton worked with the Pleasant Valley Museum for about 6 months in 2018 conducting environmental analysis and employing various elements of collections care.
She did a complete analysis of the interior of the museum with special attention to natural light on the collection. She also tested relative humidity of our space, which she found was greatly impacted by the number of visitors in the museum at a time. At her direction we applied a UV protection coating on the windows and moved items that were compromised. She tested temperature and checked for dust and damage to all items in our collection. Her testing was done over a period of time and included different times of the day. We now have a complete analysis of the interior environment of our spaces.
As a result of her interior analysis we found carpet beetles. She discovered a carpet beetle infestation in a cabinet by noticing fresh wood shavings on the glass shelves. We were able to eliminate them in the wood display. They were also found in a taxidermy display of birds that was labeled 1892. We took the birds out of the display and were able to date them as around 1940, because of the plastic eyes. Her research led us to the process of removing the beetles from the birds. It was a slow process removing the remaining carcass from each bird, but they are now on display. Elizabeth removed each carcass with tweezers before we froze the birds to kill any live bugs. We rebuilt their box and were able to save the old bubble glass that is on the front. The purchase of taxidermy reindeer moss and other archival and safe materials has brought the display “back to life” so to say. The display is sealed with a silicon product to further protect it from future infestations.
Elizabeth researched and directed all the preservation and protection for our collection. In many cases, no one realizes the challenges that brought items in our collection to their current quality of viewing. Elizabeth left full reports on all she did and took time to teach us how to do some of the work ourselves so we are able to independently care for the collection in the future.
Vice President, Pleasant Valley Historical Society Museum
Joy Todd
CALL: (805) 482-3660
Email: pvhBill@gmail.com