Amy,

If you do not already have one, pick up a copy of one of the several good
archival management texts out there. They will help a lot in planning and
putting stuff into practice. I suggest a copy of "Keeping Archives" (1993)
by Judith Ellis and the Australian Society of Archivists.

If it is in the budget, get a bunch of archival boxes and folders from
University Products/Gaylord/Light Impressions and rehouse your documents
incrementally, starting with the ones you use most often and are in the
most danger of damage. It will make your collections more accessible and
safer at the same time. There are a wide variety of materials and housing
options available, that you can tailor to your space and situation. If the
budget is too limited, then you can go with regular file boxes and folders,
as they will be better than your current storage.

I personally suggest starting small and getting a few archival materials at
a time. It will take a while, but you will eventually rehouse everything
well. Rehousing an archive can be a daunting task, so it must be undertaken
in steps if you are not to be overwhelmed.

Good luck.

Mark Janzen
Registrar/Collections Manager
Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection
Wichita State University
(316)978-5850



             amy kuenzi
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             01/05/2004 09:07
             AM


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This is my first time posting to this list.  I am a new archivist with
little formal training, and I am having some problems storing my objects.
We have lots of pictures which are now organized in paper folders and
cardboard boxes.  I don't want to leave them like that permanently because
it is not good for the pictures and they are difficult to access, which I
do almost daily.  Does anyone have suggestions about what other kinds of
containers I could use?  Also, we have magazine-type publications dating
from 1880 that are crammed into a metal fling cabinet, and they risk
tearing every time I have to take one out.  Would there be a better way to
take care of them, but still be able to use them?  I appreciate any advice
you could offer and will use it to improve the care of these archives.
Thanks, Amy Kuenzi


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