Thankful for Artifact Preservation
by: Katie Gaudette
In the generations since the first 1621 celebration, Thanksgiving
has become a time to reflect on the good in our lives. We celebrate relationships,
happy events, and prosperity with feasts and parties that often bring us even
closer with family and friends. During these celebrations, we bring out
cherished objects, treasured for the memories they evoke: Grandma’s teacups,
Uncle Joe’s turkey carving knife, the tablecloth hand sewn by Aunt Judy, each
holds a special family memory. Often such treasures come in the form of family
heirlooms, pictures, books, and stories that are passed down through families,
but at some point, such heirlooms need special care and attention in order for
them to survive for future generations.
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| Donations of Thurber artifacts go through an accession process to best care for each object |
The Gordon Center staff feel deeply honored that so
many individuals with Thurber ties have entrusted us to safeguard their
treasures and stories. In doing so, these families have not only helped secure the
object’s future well-being but have also enabled our staff to share those
stories with other guests and schoolchildren in our local communities.
Every time we are entrusted with an heirloom, picture,
or artifact, dedicated hands immediately determine what the object needs in
order to preserve it, how best to store it, and designate a specific
identification number for easy retrieval. For clothing, this requires unfolding
the garment as folding can damage older textiles. Partial molds created with
acid free tissue paper help retain the shape of the clothing while also preventing
any acid found in fabric from degrading any other fabric it touches.
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| Our staff use special tools to and solutions to mark fragile artifacts |
Paper objects like letters and postcards are numbered
in pencil on the back in an inconspicuous place, all staples and paper clips
are removed and replaced with acid free plastic alternatives, before being
classified and sorted into acid-free folders. Photographs go through a similar
process, although occasionally an acid-free pen is used to number those with
slick backings.
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| Our staff members are meticulously trained to mark and preserve artifacts |
Three-dimensional objects like jars, tools, and
geological samples receive either an acid-free tag or an identifier through a
special process. A nonabrasive, noncorrosive sealant that superficially accepts
ink is applied to an inconspicuous place, acid-free ink is used to mark its
number, and the ink is sealed again.
Here at the Gordon Center we are devoted to the
preservation of any artifact that helps to tell the story of Thurber, the
people of Thurber, and the company that sustained. Continuing to retell these
stories spreads interest and helps to make sure that the people who were born,
died, lived, and worked here are remembered.
If you have any photographs or objects with Thurber
ties and would like to consider donating them to the Gordon Center, please feel
free to contact us at GordonCenter@tarleton.edu.
Don’t have any Thurber materials, but still want to support the preservation of
these artifacts? Consider joining our membership program, the Gordon Society.
Your tax-deductible fee lets you experience the museum like a VIP with
member-only benefits while ensuring the continuation of the Gordon Center
mission. To join, click on the following link: https://tarleton.edu/gordoncenter/give/donations.html
