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Subject:
From:
"Harry G. Heiss" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:14:19 -0400
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Amber,



A cardinal rule for museum and archives curators is to do nothing that 

cannot be reversed without doing damage to the artifact or the document. 

And applying epoxy to an artifact would very likely be irreversible.



Also, rarely is anything put on exhibition permanently.  So the time will 

come when you or someone else will likely want to take the tombstone off 

exhibit and return it to storage.



Having said that, I recall seeing tombstones on exhibit in a museum in 

Europe many years ago, and they were set in wooden boxes.  I assume the 

tombstones were anchored in sand, inside the boxes.  And some that were 

thin and perhaps prone to being toppled over if leaned against were also 

encased in plexiglass boxes.



One final thought.  Many years ago, as a church group of parents were 

cleaning a cemetery, their unsupervised kids were playing around and 

climbing on some of the tombstones.  Sadly, one of the tombstones either 

broke or fell over, and one kid was crushed to death.



So whatever you do, make sure the tombstone is 'kid-proof' and well 

anchored.



Good luck!



Harry





Harry G. Heiss, Archivist

Public Debt History Center

Room W-104

Bureau of the Public Debt

Department of the Treasury

200 Third Street

Parkersburg, WV 26101-5312



[log in to unmask]

304.480.5335  [voice]

304.480.5334  [fax]



"Be nice to the archivist, or he'll erase you from history."

     --Anonymous







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