>>> Heather Pozun Watson <[log in to unmask]> 10/22/2007 3:02 PM >>>
My question is: What is the best way to organize my artifacts in storage?  By
accession number (we don't have those for many objects)?  By material
type?  By subject?  By collection?  

Don't know if I can tell you the "best" way--that will really depend on your specific situation.  I can tell you that we organize our database by accession number (and by default, also by collection), and our collections storage by material type.  We try to avoid classifying by subject because that can be, well, subjective.

With artefacts massed by material type, we feel we have a better chance of noticing if environmental conditions are adversely affecting the collections (ie., splits developing in wood from changing RH; biological infestation, etc.)  Also, if we should get a infestation of moths, for example, if we keep all our woolens all in one place, we have a better chance of containing the infestation, rather than it spreading all through our storage vault. 

We do make some exceptions to maximize storage on shelves--for example, all our chairs are stored together, whether they be wooden or metal.  But generally, all our glassware is in one area, ceramics in another, silver is all stored together, etc.



------------------------------------------------------------
Tim McShane, Assistant--Cultural History
Esplanade Museum
401 First Street SE
Medicine Hat, AB   T1A 8W2
Tel: (403) 502-8587
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