The Natural History Museum: Natural History collections, their conservation and interpretation Julie Harvey New Perspectives Project Co-ordinator Chris Collins Head of Conservation

Natural History Museum Opened to public 1881 Architect Alfred Waterhouse Complex institution

Museum visitors 3.8 million visitors

Marine Invertebrate Gallery

Bryozoans- Lace corals

Objects of cultural significance

Scientific Institution- 300 scientists: 70 million specimens

Historical Significance Sir Hans Sloane Joseph Banks Charles Darwin

SEM- Diatom

SEM- Pollen grain- Tomato

Diversity Insects

Bird specimens- Echo parakeet

Natural structures- nests

Palaeontology- Mineralogy

Library, Art + Archives

Complex Conservation Projects Natural History Museum, London

Natural Materials Natural History Museum holds around 70 million specimens Natural origin or artefacts derived from a natural origin

Challenges Collections support the research of the museum Any interventive process therefore will reduce or change the value of the object Collections are held in an environment that reduces rates of deterioration and maximize data –Object –Frozen Collections –Digital Collections –Specialist Control Standards Review

Ethics Preventive Approach Object as Data –DNA –Ore generation –Meteorite –Proteins –Pigments –Specimen Status

Lace and Links Natural Materials – Linen (flax plant, Linum usitatissimum), Silk (protein fibre), Cotton (bolls - Gossypium barbadense – Metals, human hair, natural history materials – Hold samples of original materials – Role as a research collection Museum holds its collections as a research archive Conservations role is to preserve data

Complexity Physical structures Chemical Data –DNA –Proteins –Glass, Wax –Collagen –Keratin –Chitin –Hydroxyapatite –Cellulose –Mineralogical –Composite minerals

Complex Structures Complex Structure Heavily restored Value –Morphology –ADNA

Imaging Digitization and analysis Macro level –Digital photography –Surface Scanning –Computer Aided Tomography (CT) –Non-invasive analysis Raman EDX

Analysis in Conservation Papyrus –oxidation and efflorescence –Preservation and access

Composition, Imaging and analysis Conservation Reduced Oxygen Environments –Analysis of plastics –Design of enclosures –Assessment of monitors –Effectiveness –Use

Imaging in Conservation Blaschka Glass Models Lay over conservation documentation Structural Information –Conservation –Structural –Analysis Reduced invasive conservation

Non-invasive investigation and reproduction Stereo lithography CAT Scanning and 3D Laser Scanning Raman Spectroscopy/Multi Spectral imaging Specialist Sampling Maintenance of Electronic Data Micro-sampling

Reducing invasive treatments Laser Cleaning –Dual Wavelength Changing the way we treat specimens

Conservation Research Non-invasive Conservation –Reduced invasive treatments –Imaging Forensic Conservation –Analysis –Design –Aid in preservation at scenes of crime –Sampling –Ensure data for ID accessible DNA Geneaology

Changing Methodologies Improve techniques for preservation Improve knowledge of environmental preservation Improving data preservation Accessibility –Object –Data

Overview Research Orientation Non-invasive analysis Non-invasive preservtion Materials analysis Improved techniques in data (specimen) management Improved access –Imaging –Analysis –(digital) replication Environmental standards

Thanks Liesa Stertz Richie Abel Felicity bolton Lorraine Cornish