Henry Ford Museum - Collections Storage Building Decant

Project: Collections Storage Building Decant
Employment: 2018 - 2019
Conservation Team: Clara Deck - Senior Conservator; Louise Beck - Object Conservator
Project Support: Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

Project synopsis:
The Collections Storage Building (CSB) is a storage unit located on the Henry Ford property. Due to improper climate control, the unit became infested with mold, thus contaminating any artifacts inside of its walls. With funding from the IMLS grant, 1/6 of the unit were evacuated. Any artifacts from this section were individually treated to remove the presence of mold, then transported to a new, climate controlled storage facility on the property. Project ran from February of 2018 until 2019.

All objects from the Collections Storage Building were infested with mold and in need of treatment. Objects ranged from large industrial machinery, components of carousels, and various inventions by Thomas Edison, etc. A wide variety of items differed in condition, from unacceptable to good, though all required treatment and decontamination.

Personally treated approximately 360 objects during funding under IMLS Grant. Notable treatments included treating and rehousing objects possessing asbestos, lead, mercury, and cadmium.

Effectively trained in emergency and disaster protocols; equipped to handle unpredictable circumstances such as flooding, terrorism, presence of hazards, etc.