Andrew,

As a former curator myself at an historic house museum, I certainly understand your dilemma.  Does the residence have a picture rail?  Many homes of the Victorian American time period had a picture rail running around the walls close to the ceiling for hanging framed pieces.  You can use it for the same purpose in addition to hanging labels and/or text panels.  The house museum where I worked, however, did not have a picture rail.  Instead, labels for artifacts were placed next to the objects with a mylar buffer, since the display method (table or other piece of furniture) was also an artifact.  For temporary exhibits, I used adhesive putty for small labels and adhered them to the woodwork, but never to the wallpaper. (Conservators on this list-serv may cringe, sorry!  But if you have better suggestions, please weigh in!).

You might want to check out the Rotary Jail Museum (1882) in Crawfordsville, Indiana; it, too, is jail and sheriff's residence: http://www.rotaryjailmuseum.org/.  There is one picture on the Photos page showing objects on a picture rail.

Best of luck!
Sincerely,
Alison Wright
(formerly of Indiana, now also in Ohio)


---- Andrew Kirkland <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
> Hi, I've been recently hired to serve as a curator in a new museum that is being put into an old historical sheriff's residence.  In Ohio the law used to require the sheriff and his family to live on the premises of the jail.  The building was built in the 1880s and has been completely restored, original woodwork included.  One of the major challenges I'm facing is how to hang signs for the displays.  What is the best way to do this with minimal, if none is possible, damage to the walls and woodwork.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.
> 
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