Greetings:

I have a question for people who are more up on new archival packing
materials than I am.

We've gotten several shipping crates lately from other museums (whom I
would expect would use only archival-quality foams) that are filled with
a soft, spongy, black foam that doesn't look like any foam I've ever been
taught is safe to use.  I'm just wondering if there's been a new type of
foam that's ok to use with artifacts, or could it just be a coincidence that
these museums have the same non-archival foam lying about that they
used in these crates?

Also, while I've got your ears (eyes?), does anyone have an opinion on
using foam peanuts as filler in a packing crate when lightweight artifacts
are wrapped or boxed in an acid-free container inside the crate?

Just curious.

Christine Mouw
Assistant Curator
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum
West Branch, Iowa  52358
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