Re: storage bins

At my museum we generally make our own artifact storage boxes in house out of Neutracor acid-free cardboard.

In 2003, we acquired a large collection of about 300 quilts and woven coverlets. Since they arrived all at once and our collections and conservation staff are very minimal, we had to think a bit outside of the box and took a slightly different approach to our usual processing. That different approach included enlisting the help of a team of interested volunteers from two local quilting guilds to assist with processing, including: a basic condition survey, applying accession numbers, vacuuming the quilts and folding and padding them for storage. All volunteers were required to attend a half day orientation / training session on handling before they were allowed to work with the collection. The other difference was that, since time, space, and money are all in perpetually short supply, we opted to purchase 150 Sterilite under the bed type containers. The containers were used to store an average of two folded quilts each, depending of course on the size and condition of each quilt and the amount of tissue we felt was necessary to pad out the folds adequately.

The boxes are lined with unbuffered acid-free tissue paper to act as a bit of a buffer to help protect the textiles from humidity, static electricity, and light (the boxes are transparent). Our textiles storage is under HVAC control, although the system tends to run drier than is optimal. We are hoping to be able to update and expand our collections storage facilities in the next few years, and our hope is to eventually transfer most of our large flat textiles to rolled storage. As an interim measure, however, the Sterlite boxes seem to be meeting our needs quite well, and I would consider using them again in the future. One major advantage of the plastic bins is that they are readily available locally, unlike most of our storage supplies which we generally order in from Ontario, thus saving on shipping expenses and supporting local businesses.

I would also be interested to hear from others on the list who may have had different results.

Dee Stubbs-Lee
Conservator,
The New Brunswick Museum
277 Douglas Avenue
Saint John, New Brunswick
Canada
E2K 1E5
telephone: (506) 643-2341
fax: (506) 643-2360
e-mail: Dee.Stubbs-Lee@xxxxxxxxxx

A committee here at the museum where I work has suggested that, as needed, we replace acid-free cardboard boxes with lidded sterilite storage containers for vault storage of our quilts. The containers can be seen at these two web pages:

Since they are made from polypropylene, there is no issue of pH. The Material Safety Data Sheet shows a melting point of 130-150 degrees C. It also says "Adequate ventilation must be provided to remove fumes generated" and that pellets used for making them have "a slightly paraffinic odor."

Has anyone used such products for textile storage? Does anyone have any thoughts or comments about using these containers for this purpose?

One advantage is the cost: very low, and the items are available locally. I know that static can build up on coroplast storage boxes (also made from polypropylene) so can I assume that these containers would also have static build up?

Thank you in advance.

Curator of Collections / Registrar

Museum of the American Quilter's Society

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Re: storage bins

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