Kimberly Beach wrote:

> While it may be "part of the object," it isn't part of
> the rest of the objects in your collection.  I think
> you are justified in removing the odor so it does not
> contaminate other objects in your collection.  To me,
> it is in the same vein as removing pests before you
> introduce an object to the collection.

I pretty much agree with the above, but smoking cigarettes at one time was very much a part of
popular culture.  This vestige of that time might be an important aspect of that object.
  Not too long ago, I cleaned about 17 trophies and plaques that had been won by the village fire
department. Most of them were coated with nicotine. I didn't miss the irony. I cleaned the
objects, but in doing so something of the 1960s and 1970s was lost. The same thing happens, I
suppose, with all objects from pre-central heating days.

Cynthia Ogorek
Matteson Historical Museum

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