Amber R. Clifford: YOur state archives and affilated institutions should be
able to provide you with lists of resources for emergencies. I would advise
you to photograph, document, and freeze the oversize items in a refrigerated
(freezer) truck so that a measured, thoughtful treatment can be carried out
later. There are excellent papers on disaster treatment protocols available
in the Jounral of the American Institute for Conservation
(http://www.aic.stanford.edu ) and there are conservators in your area
that may be consulted (http://www.aic-faic.org/guide/form.html ) Emergency
treatments usually focus on stabilization and minimizing damage. Cleaning
and full treatments typically occur after insurance claims and careful
proposals are established. A conservator could help you carry out the
documentation and the contracting of the necessary freezer facilities.
Sincerely yours, Mary Ballard

Mary W. Ballard
Senior Textiles Conservator
Smithsonian Center for Materials Research & Education
4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland MD 20746 USA
tel: 301-238-1210 fax: 301-238-3709
email: [log in to unmask]

>>> [log in to unmask] 04/08/05 09:50AM >>>
Hello to all-

I have in my collections an actual Bedouin tent.  It is approximately
90' x 90' x 30', hand woven of wool and camel hair.

My problem is this.  We have basement storage, and the basement
flooded.  The tent was caught in the worst part of the flooding.  We are
in the process of unrolling and drying the tent, which weighs over
500lbs when dry.

My next step is obviously cleaning the tent.  I, however, do not have
the equipment or space for that task.  Does anyone know, or recommend, a
good lab for that job?  I'm in mid-Missouri, and want to take the tent
to a good conservation lab.

Any help finding a good conservator is appreciated.

Amber R. Clifford
Instructor, Department of History and Anthropology
Nance Collections Curator, Central Archives and Museum
Central Missouri State University
Wood 136N
Warrensburg, MO  64093
Tel: (660)-543-8692
Email:  [log in to unmask] 
Fax: (660)-543-4535

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