Salvage and Recovery
When institutions first consider developing emergency plans, the salvage and recovery of objects that are damaged by disasters is a primary focus. The salvage and recovery techniques used on various types of objects including, but not limited to, archival items (books, paper, photographs, electronic media, paintings) and other artifacts (inorganics, wood/furniture, textiles, and natural history collections) all aim to slow the process of deterioriation various objects will undergo when they have been damaged. Techniques to be discussed in this module should be considered first response actions that will slow the process of deterioration. Trained conservators or salvage companies will need to then be involved in the long-term salvage, recovery, and preservation of the object.
Webinars
- Florida Connecting to Collections 2015 Emergency Plans: Salvage Recovery Archival presented by Francoise Hack, Assistant Director of Collections, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.
- Florida Connecting to Collections 2012 Emergency Plans: Salvage & Recovery Objects/Textiles presented by Stephanie Hornbeck, Principal and Senior Conservator, Caryatid Conservation Services, Inc.
- Florida Connecting to Collections 2015 Emergency Plans: Salvage Recovery Objects/Sculpture presented by Rosa Lowinger, Principal and Chief Conservator, RLA Conservation, Inc.
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Activity
Practical Activity
Salvage and Recovery-A separate worksheet has been developed for this activity.
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Samples
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum – Artifact Salvage & Recovery Sample (.pdf)
Florida State University Libraries – Artifact Salvage & Recovery Sample (.pdf)
University of Miami Libraries – Artifact Salvage & Recovery Sample (.pdf)
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Online Resources
American Institute for Conservation (AIC), Disaster Response & Recovery National Heritage Responders
http://www.conservation-us.org/emergencies/national-heritage-responders#.V5ETyJODFBc
National Park Service, Conserv-O-Gram
Salvage of Water-Damaged Collections: Salvage at a Glance (2002)
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/conserveogram/21-03.pdf
Salvage at a Glance,Part I: Paper Based Collections (2002)
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/conserveogram/21-04.pdf
Salvage at a Glance,Part II: Non-Paper Based Archival Collections (2002)
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/conserveogram/21-05.pdf
Salvage at a Glance, Part III: Object Collections (2002)
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/conserveogram/21-06.pdf
Salvage at a Glance, Part IV: Natural History Collections (2003)
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/conserveogram/21-07.pdf
Salvage at a Glance, Part V: Textiles (2003)
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/conserveogram/21-08.pdf
Northeast Document Conservation Center, Preservation Leaflets
Emergency Salvage of Wet Books and Records
http://www.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets/3Emergency_Management/06SalvageWetBooks.php
Freezing and Drying Wet Books and Records
http://www.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets/3Emergency_Management/12DryingFrozenBooks.php
Emergency Salvage of Wet Photographs
http://www.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets/3Emergency_Management/07SalvageWetPhotos.php
Emergency Salvage of Moldy Books and Paper
http://www.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets/3Emergency_Management/08SalvageMoldyBooks.php