AIC preconference on housing

Boxes, Bags and Board-Cutters:
A Session on Housings at the 1996 AIC Pre-Session

Housings seem to be some of the most straight-forward tasks
performed in a conservation department. Every field of
specialization has developed approaches accepted as standards for
the housing and storage of artifacts. However, conservators often
consider these solutions either self-evident, or of interest only to
others in their field of expertise. Although housings are not
commonly discussed in a forum such as a national conference, this is
an arena in which shared information, techniques, and ideas could be
shown as immediately applicable to the work of other conservators.

The Pre-Session for the AIC Annual Conference in June, 1996
(Norfolk) is organized around the theme of collections conservation:
risk-assessment, environmental controls, pollutants in new and old
buildings, storage and housings. The housings portion of the program
will encourage the active exchange of designs, techniques and
production experience among practitioners. This is an opportunity
for all areas of conservation specialization to share solutions to
similar problems.

Techniques and equipment used in the manufacture of the housings
will be exhibited, along with standard and new materials used in
their construction.

Topics will include:

    *   Moving and Mass Containerization

        Planning a move; custom and off-the shelf housings;
        packaging entire collections

    *   Standard Housing Designs

        Widely accepted protective structures in each specialty,
        e.g. hoop-and-bag enclosures, drop-spine boxes, and padded
        hangers

    *   Variations/Adaptations

        Reconfiguring standard housings for unusual circumstances or
        artifacts

    *   New Solutions

        Creative ways of coping

We are seeking a wide range of designs and solutions, and welcome
contributions in any of the following areas:

    1.  Sample/model housings, with handouts detailing specific
        information on the production of the housing, such as cost
        of materials, equipment needed, time required, and skill
        level for manufacture. An actual model would be preferable,
        but photographs will be gladly accepted. In addition to
        custom-made housing designs, consider submitting any
        customizing your lab has done with off-the-shelf materials.
        We would like to present the full range of housings
        presently being constructed by institutions.

    2.  Tools and methods, from simple jigs to computer-aided design
        for the manufacture of housings or organization of housing
        projects

    3.  Visual aids, photographs, videotapes or multimedia
        presentations showing production techniques

    4.  Planning documents, such as surveys, forms, or grant
        applications, used in dealing with mass housings projects or
        moves

We would like to have commitments to participate by October 1. If
you are interested, or have any questions, please contact Miranda
Martin for further information at:

    miranda [at] mail__utexas__edu
    512-471-9117
    The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
    Paper Conservation Laboratory
    P.O. Drawer 7219
    Austin, TX 78713-7219

Miranda Martin

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 9:13
                 Distributed: Wednesday, July 26, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-9-13-006
                                  ***