Tyvek should be archival. I learned about it from a very respected textile
conservators for use as dust covers and garment bags specifically for
costume and textiles, but I know it is also used in construction. There may
be different grades, coatings, etc. depending on where you get it.

Elizabeth Walton
www.clotheslinejournal.com


At 12:50 PM 7/3/02 -0700, you wrote:
>The curatorial "staff" (all volunteer) have been discussing with our house
>board members the use of Tyvek as a waterproofing cover over muslin covers
and
>a liner of wooden shelves. One of the board members has a connection to
>getting us free Tyvek, but she is not convinced it doesn't off-gas. Could a
>couple of you weigh in? (Right now this would be used in our textile
>collection re-housing project, though on your recommendation we might use the
>idea for other collections.)
>
>Thanks!
>Jillian Adams
>Live-in Caretaker and Collections Management Volunteer
>Loring-Greenough House
>Jamaica Plain, MA
>
>On Tue, 2 Jul 2002 18:09:01 -0400 Elizabeth Walton <[log in to unmask]>
>wrote:
>
>Tyvek is a great dustcover as is a normal unbleached cotton muslin . Tyvek
>you can get from archival suppliers and muslin you can get for $1 a yard at
>a fabric store.
>
>
>Elizabeth Walton
>www.clotheslinejournal.com
>
>At 04:07 PM 7/2/02 -0400, you wrote:
>>Hi,
>>
>>I have a question that I hope someone can help me with.  We have some
>large items in storage that need
>>dustcovers.  We tried to order polyethylene plastic sheeting, which we
>understood to be archivally safe,
>>from a local company.   When it arrived there was a distinct "plastic-y"
>odor, which the collections
>>manager said was an indication of off-gassing.  So I was wondering if
>anyone on the list could tell me
>>(off-list would be best) a good source for inert plastic sheeting, or if
>there is a better, reasonably priced
>>alternative for dustcovers (and where to find them).
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Kathy
>>
>>Kathy Burk
>>Collections Assistant
>>Museum of Natural History/Museum of Anthropology
>>University of Oregon
>>[log in to unmask]
>>
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