Objects on the Move

Click Here for an update about the move

 

 

 

 

Vesterheim’s collection has outgrown its storage space and many objects are being moved to a new building on the museum’s campus. The Bauder-Landsgard Collections Study Center is a state-of-the-art facility for researching and preserving museum treasures. The building is designed to house 10,000 artifacts from Vesterheim’s world-class collection. It will take two full years to complete the moving and photographing of all the objects. Some of Vesterheim’s best-loved collections will be moving to the study center, including trunks decorated with rosemaling, carved wooden tankards, and silver spoons.

This project has been possible thanks to generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Vision Iowa, David and Brenda Carlson of Decorah, Lila Nelson of Minneapolis, the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors, and the Decorah City Council.

Check back and view our progress

 

The Process

Moving

First, the objects are removed from their current locations, which are overcrowded, difficult to access, and do not have stable climates. In the picture to the left, the current storage shelves for large objects are starting to be emptied.

Small objects will be wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and securely packed into archival boxes and onto moving carts, like this one.

Large objects, such as trunks and furniture, will be moved individually on a flatbed hand truck.

 

Cleaning

After they are moved, objects are gently cleaned with a vacuum to remove any loose dust or dirt. If needed, a customized support is constructed out of foam to ensure an object’s stability for years to come.

Here, workers dust boxes with a HEPA vacuum, while clean boxes await transport.

 

Condition Report

A detailed condition report is completed on each object as it enters the Bauder-Landsgard Collections Study Center. A condition report provides a detailed description of the nature, location, and extent of an object’s wear and tear in a clear, consistent manner.

The large wooden box pictured here has gaping cracks, rusted hinges, and evidence
of insect damage. The blue box has chiped paint.

 

Photography

After they are cleaned and a report is completed, the objects are photographed. Visual documentation provides a complete account of an object’s condition at a particular time. Photography is also a way for researchers and artists to access the collection.

Data Entry

Finally, the data is entered into an electronic database, called PastPerfect, which contains records of the entire museum collection. This project is an ideal opportunity to verify and update the information recorded for these objects. All digital photographs also will be added to the database.