Preserving and protecting collections and responsibilities associated with object safety
One of the responsibilities that a registrar’s duties include can be as a collections manager. This person oversees the physical protection of the objects in storage. Methods of storage, object handling, condition reporting of the object, marking of numbers, knowing of climate and environmental conditions, pest management can all be some of the responsibilities of the registrar, especially in smaller institutions.
When working for the Judah L. Magnes Museum and Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, I was responsible for the protection of the objects while in storage, working with conservators when able to ensure the objects were not being subjected to any adverse conditions. One project that I oversaw for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, was an earthquake mitigation and protection of objects in storage with a grant provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. It was quite fortunate that the project was completed prior to the major Loma Prieta quake that occurred in 1989. Nothing in storage was damaged due to staff efforts to come up with easy and affordable recommendations for the care and protection of the objects. I have continued to advise and use some of these recommendations to clients.
