From: Suits, Linda Norbut
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 8:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: re: arsenic in textiles

Arsenic was used in so many applications it's hard to tell where it might end up.  A common moth treatment used on textiles and furs called siburizing or sybarizing was used by dry cleaners. That process was pretty effective as it relied on arsenic.  Some questions I ask myself when trying to decide the next steps are:  How old is it?  Where and how was it stored?  What is the condition?  If it is 70 years old, has been in a closet for 30 year, and is still in great condition, I immediately become suspicious and assume it has been treated until I have verifiable proof to the contrary.

Linda Norbut Suits
Art in Architecture Coordinator

Capital Development Board
Wm. G Stratton Office Building, 3rd Floor
401 South Spring Street
Springfield, IL 62706

voice    217.782.9561
fax       217.782.8625
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>




Date:    Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:55:36 -0600

From:    Upham Mansion <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>

Subject: Arsenic in furs



Dear Fellow Listers,





I am trying to determine (before spending funds on a test kit) if the fur coats, stoles and muffs we have in our collection may contain arsenic.



I've looked online, read the NPS information CCI information and the Museum Listserve archives and have learned that a form of arsenical soap was used in the preservation process for taxidermy (mainly to prevent insect

infestation) but my question is-  is there a possibility that our furs (some dating back to the early 1900s) contain arsenic?



Thank you!





Kim Krueger

Coordinator

North Wood County Historical Society

212 W. 3rd

PO Box 142

Marshfield, WI 54449

715.387.3322



=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).