Archival and Preservation Tips

Here is an example of an exhibit gallery using very low lighting. This is at the Met and you can see how the artifacts are in nearly total darkness and lit only dimly. This is helping to preserve the colors and overall condition of the works while still allowing visitors to see them. Often these galleries have motion sensors and the lights do not turn on until someone walks in.

Safe Lighting for Exhibiting Your Collection

Illuminating the Past Without Destroying It: Safe Lighting for Exhibiting Your Collection When we walk into a museum or gallery, the first thing we often notice is the light….

This photograph from the National WWII Museum shows collections boxes stored on Space Saver shelving, in archival boxes, and properly tagged with archival tags. Notice the staff member is also handling the poster with gloves while is fully supported so that it doesn't bend and tear. Image source: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/20-years-collecting-wwii-artifacts

Collection Preservation Tips From The National WWII Museum

Collection Preservation Tips from The National WWII Museum Although the National WWII Museum is a bit further forward in time than Civil War collectors, the concept of…

This is a screenshot of a TikTok video I found that shows a Civil War uniform exhibited on a mannequin that is too large. Notice how it cannot be fully buttoned. By buttoning the top two buttons, you can see the stress put on the garment because those two buttons are trying to hold the whole thing together. This is an example of why it is important to use a mannequin that fits your garment, and why it's better to work with one that's on the slightly too small side and pad it up.

8 Tips for Displaying Historic Clothing at Home

For private collectors, historic garments are not just beautiful objects — they’re tangible connections to the past. Displaying them at home allows you to share their stories …

Here you can see a number of pages that have been cut out of the ledger to be sold separately.

Angry Archivist: Cutting Up History

Angry Archivist: Cutting Up History Don’t you love it when you sit down to read through a historic book and someone has cut pages out of it? Isn’t that wonderful? No? I did…

Here's an example of CatalogIt's online HUB virtual exhibit as used by the Chattanooga Historical Society.

4 Benefits of a Digitized Collection

4 Benefits of a Digitized Collection Last week, we went over some tips for scanning your collection. So, you’ve gotten a scanner and digitized your Civil War era photographs, …

Here you can see the file name format used by the Research Arsenal and how multiple scans of the same document are given parenthetical numbers.

How to Scan Your Collection

How to Scan Your Collection This is only a basic guide on how to scan your collection. For this purpose, I’m focusing on documents and photographs. Things like maps, glass n…

The Scanners to Digitize Your Collection

The Scanners to Digitize Your Collection Last week we discussed in some basic detail the advantages of having a digitized copy of your collection available. This week, I want…

Why Digitize Your Collection

One of the things I’ve written about in previous posts is the importance of digitizing your collection. Whether it’s a photograph collection, or document collection, it’s impo…

CDV Photograph of Frank, Frederick, and Alice, “The Children of the Battlefield” Carte-de-visite (CDV) photograph of Frank, Frederick, and Alice, the children of Amos Humiston of the 154th New York Infantry. Humiston was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg, but his identity was at first unknown. An original ambrotype of his three children – eventually copied to produce this CDV - was found clutched in his hand. The ambrotype came into the possession of Dr. J. Francis Bournes of Philadelphia, who traveled to Gettysburg to help tend to the wounded after the battle. Bournes vowed to identify the soldier and return his image to the family. Newspapers soon printed a description of the subjects in the hopes of someone could connect them to the fallen soldier. It worked. Bourne would later work with local photographers in Philadelphia to produce copies of the Humiston ambrotype for the benefit of a home for orphaned children of the battlefield in Gettysburg.

The Humanity of the Battle of Gettysburg in Primary Sources

The Humanity of the Battle of Gettysburg in Primary Sources As a professional or amateur researcher, the best information you can find about a historical topic will come from…

A "Wunderkammer" or Cabinet of Curiosities was the first form of a museum that became popular in 16th Century Europe. They were characterized by room crammed full of cool stuff. This is not a good model for exhibiting your collections.

3 Simple Tips for Displaying Your Collection

3 Simple Tips for Displaying Your Collection One of the highlights of owning a nice collection (or even a beginner-level collection) of Civil War memorabilia is displaying…

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