One of the key goals of every museum is to protect its collections from deterioration,

harm, or destruction. This is by no means an easy feat, as threats that are impossible for even the
eye to see—such as humidity or pressure—can cause irreversible harm to objects. In the end, the
only achievable goal of museums and collections management is to “slow down the natural
destruction of objects.”1 There is a total of fifty-seven crucial objects that will be included within
the exhibit: South (Un)Defined. They are related to five key themes that analyze the South,
including: Geography, Industry, Politics, Community, and Culture. As a result of its large
content region and diverse themes, the exhibit objects themselves are also diverse in nature. One
could write an entire novel on how to conserve and secure such objects for future generations. To
create a concentrated argument for this three-page document, this statement will focus on
preserving and conserving fabrics, items that should be exchanged, paper, and plastics within our
exhibit.
Objects consisting of fabrics—such as clothing, furniture, or décor—can become a
preservation nightmare for many museums. These objects must be handled with care, as the oils
on our hands can stain or damage the fabrics, which can also crack, split, or tear with age.
Additionally, while on display or in storage, harmful light can cause fading or sun damage;
improper layout can cause too much weight or pressure on certain points and cause tears or
strains; and biological organism can have a field day by eating, nesting, or polluting the fabric.
To ensure the safety of the bathing suits, bonnets, christening outfits, and quilts within South
(Un)Defined, these objects will be stored predominantly within exhibit cases to create a micro-
environment. The exhibit cases will help protect the object from pest, wandering hands, and
create a buffer between changing temperatures/humidity.
These cases will also be easily opened, such as the one in the Olympics exhibit with the
mascot, to maintain, care for, and easily maneuver the objects if necessary. This is especially
important for the bathing suits and quilts within the exhibit. While the cases or exhibit controlled
environments will help with the preservation of these objects, they will need to be switched out
with others to give them a rest in storage. Again, the goal is to simply slow down the
deterioration process. For the quilt, we have considered switching the one from our exhibit for
the “crazy quilt” with the “Friendship” pattern and the accession number 1979.462.M67. For the
bathing suits, we have considered switching the ones on display for a men’s bathing suit of grey
wool heather (1981.188.M23), a lady’s bathing suit with a nylon underneath (1982.316.M1), and
a women’s bathing suit of light pink (2003.239.M5). By switching out the fabrics, we ensure
they are not exposed to an overabundance of light and pressure and can be conserved and secure
for years to come.

1
David Dean, “Controlling the Exhibition Environment,” pg. 67.