We often have objects which we have to care for, but which we don't want to accession for one reason or another. Maybe because we know they are going to be re-attached to a building after restoration works have been completed or because we have to wait until a research project has been completed before we can make the decision which objects we will accession. For these cases we allocate numbers to the items and add them to our collections management system so that we can manage their locations in storage etc. but we make sure that the computer and paper documentation is marked "unaccessioned object".
If you are not sure at the moment whether you will accession the capsule or not them this could be a suitable approach.
On the other hand if the decision has already been made that you will accession the case when it is opened then I seen no reason why you should not accession it now and then open it in the future. It was always intended to be opened so I don't see that you will be damaging its integrity. At least no more than say removing yellowed varnish from an oil painting.
Trevor Reynolds, Registrar
English Heritage, 37 Tanner Row, York, YO1 6WP
+44 (0) 1904 601905
________________________________________
From: Museum discussion list [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Britton, Kathleen [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 02 March 2010 17:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Time capsul contents
Afternoon all -
I've got a bit of a dilemma regarding a time capsul that just came into
our possession. It was origianlly encased in a column in 1993, but that
column came down during new construction about three years ago. Last
week, the capsul (it appears to be a sheet steel box sealled with
silicone caulking and signed in black magic marker) came over to us from
the office where it had been sitting for the last three years. We've
already managed to keep our over-eager volunteer registrar from opening
it to inventory the contents (there's still 33 years to go before its
scheduled opening; I'm hoping that paperwork we have from its creation
will satify her need to look), but now I need some opinions re. whether
or not to accession it and if so, when (I'm not sure if it will ever be
encased again). I know the contents would be part of the general
accession number (i.e. 20XX.1.10A, B, etc..), but I'm stumped re. the
case itself - part of me is inclined not to accession it period as it
will be opened and its current integrity destroyed, but then again we
have at least one old, opened time capsul in our collection that has
been accessioned. I may or may not be here by the time its opened, but
I'd need to be able to give our registrar some sort of answer before she
runs off on her own and creates another problem unitentionally.
Thanks in advance and apologies for the length -
Kathleen
Kathleen Emerson Britton
Interim Director/Curator of Collections
Rochester Medical Museum and Archives
333 Humboldt Street
Rochester, NY 14610
(585) 922-1847 / [log in to unmask]
Please note new email address
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