Marking
an object, usually with an accession number, provides a link between the object
and the information about it. All
museums and archives label their material so the link to the provenance (history)
or provenience (origin) of the object or collection is maintained. Obviously there are ways to do this
that limit the damage to the object.
Again remember anything done to an object must be reversible. I’ll only cover a few of the types of
objects and how to label without damage.
Photographs – Labeling photographs with the
date and people and places is a pretty common practice. Unfortunately many people write on the
photograph or on the back with a ballpoint pen. That makes the photograph most unhappy - not reversible and very damaging.
Leaves indentations and chemically active ink. The best way is to mark photographs on the back with a graphite
pencil. These can be found at any
art supply or craft store.
Graphite will write on the back of photographs even if they are shiny
photo paper. (It can smudge so don’t rub it.) Usually museums and archives
will mark an accession number on the back in a corner of the photograph. As noted above the accession number
links to an inventory with information about the photograph. Another way to mark photographs (again
in an unobtrusive corner on the back) is with a pen containing India ink, which
is inert and will not damage the photograph. The problem with using a pen is the issue of
reversibility. In some
instances the sleeve used for storage can be labeled instead of the
photograph. For scanned images,
the metadata provides the information about the photograph.
Paper – Usually the file folder is marked
in pencil or with acid free typed labels, but if a paper is to be marked you
need to use a 2B pencil and find an unobtrusive corner usually on the back. Using library labels common on books and magazines is a no-no. It's not reversible and the glue is acidic. If the paper is sleeved then the identification can be written onto the sleeve instead of the paper.
Objects – Archives have objects too. These also should be marked following
the standards set by museums.
(Archaeologists also mark objects to link to excavation
information and they should follow museum standards too.) The accepted way is
to use a substance called Paraloid B-72 which is inert and looks like clear
nail polish. You can also get a
white variety to use on darker objects after first coating the spot for the
label with Paraloid B-72. The
labeling number is written with India ink. Once this has dried it is covered with another thin layer of
Paraloid B-72
Textiles – If the textile must be labeled,
a label made of cotton or linen is sewn in an unobtrusive place. I use the cotton tape sold at sewing stores.
Remember it must be material that has no chemicals, not manmade fabric. I sew it on with cotton
thread. Again the numbering is in
India ink. Be careful to use a pen
that it doesn’t run on the label.
Most archival supply companies like Gaylord have the supplies one needs.
The web offers numerous explanations of
labeling – probably more clearly than I just did. Here are some examples:
(The British have the best training for conservators.)
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/pdf/preservation/A_Simple_Guide_to_Lablling_Museum_Objects.pdf
( good illustrative examples)
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