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To: MNHAN063--SIVM

From: Johanna Humphrey
Subject: Object marking (permanent or not?) & attachment of bar code label
The AAM Registrar's Committee sponsored a workshop on marking
collections during the 1997 conference in Atlanta. Topics covered
included labels, attachments, pens, inks and barcodes. A sourcebook was
produced containing articles on these topics. Contact the Committee or
the workshop Chair (Marianna Munyer, Illinois Historic Preservation
Agency, Fax:217-785-8117, tel: 217-785 5056) for information on
obtaining a copy. I highly recommend this manual-particularly because it
contains Helen Alten's excellent review of materials and products used
for "marking" objects. As for attaching barcode labels, the Department
of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution barcoded the collections (about
two millon items) as part of our move to a new storage facility. We
related the barcode tag to the artifact in a variety o f ways, depending
on the type of artifact: archival string tags tied onto the item, as a
gummed label placed on the outside of a box, placed in a box with the
item, in a zip lock bag with the item, on a synthetic "sleeve" slipped
over the shaft of a spear etc... These labels are considered
supplemental, for tracking and inventorying the artifacts, and DO NOT
replace writing the number on the artifact itself. If the label is
misplaced, the artifact may still be identified by the "permanent"
number on the artifact.

Johanna Humphrey
Collections Data Manager
Anthropology Dept
National Museum of Natural History
Smihsonian Institution [log in to unmask]