First and foremost--make sure that you keep the object in isolation--and GET
THAT MOLD! The last thing you want is mold infestation and blooms popping up
throughout your storage area.  It would probably be best to keep the
cartridge box in isolation until you are sure the mold is defunct--and have
a real chance to do conservation work on it.

My initial thoughts...

Brian Buff
Curatorial Department
Shaker Museum and Library
Old Chatham, New York

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Ciotola, Nicholas P.
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 3:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: conservation query


Looking for conservation advice...

A donor is bringing by a leather civil war cartridge box made at the
Allegheny Arsenal here in Pittsburgh but it has suffered some water damage
and has some mold building up on it. We'd like to take in the item, but want
to know how to begin preserving it immediately... until some funding comes
through to get a conservator involved.

Can someone suggest the first steps to remedy this damage?

Thanks in advance.

Nicholas Ciotola
Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania

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