I work in collections management at Glensheen Estate - a 39-room mansion
built in 1905-08 and donated to the University of MN in 1977 with almost
everything intact. I am having difficulty finding curatorial guidelines
specifically for historic homes, and am particularly in need of advice on
the following:

1) Does there exist a product or procedure that would protect original
carpets from the foot traffic of guests without covering up or removing
them? In some carpeted spaces guests remain in small areas enclosed by
rope, in others they wander freely within rooms.  We don't want to remove
them for obvious reasons, but also want them preserved.

2) What are acceptable guidelines for using the collection as it would
have been used in the home (i.e. using 17th century Chinese porcelain for
flower arrangements)?

Thank you for any suggestions you might have - particularly for the first,

Jennifer Carlquist

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