Exhibition or Display Standards Discussion for History Archives & Museum, OBJECT CARE & PLACEMENT, mid-term considerations and recommendations, Iroquois County Historical Society Collection, http://www.iroquoiscountyhistoricalsociety.com/ 103 W. Cherry Street, Watseka, IL 60970

1. 2014 IRQ CAP Object Preservation
in a 3 story 1866 Watseka, IL Courthouse

2. Supported through the 2014 HP- CAP Grant
prepared by Jennifer Hein, Preservation Conservator
COLLECTIONS ASSESSMENT GUIDE
For the
Iroquois County Historical Society Collection
http://www.iroquoiscountyhistoricalsociety.com/
103 W. Cherry Street, Watseka, IL 60970
cathjwill@gmail.com Catherine Williams,
ichs2215@mchsi.com, Judy

3. Good sign compliment
to typical small state sign

4. Good signage on exterior

5. Observations
Exterior & Public Relations Discussion
Good sign compliment to typical small state sign
Good signage on exterior
Capable Event & Handicap Services
Adequate Parking & Drainage In Place

6. Capable Event & Handicap Services
new food prep area being constructed

7. Adequate Parking & Drainage In Place

8. Exhibition or Display Standards Discussion
• LIGHTING & HEAT
• Many Window Covers In Place, the pull shades
are the best.
• Minimal Over lighting Issues, Refer to the
Footcandle readings . Be aware that internal case
lights generate heat & light which does deteriorate
materials more quickly.
• Sports has 3 double fixture fluorescents so 6
strips which is high. The Hat Shop floods were
reduced nicely with incandescent bulbs.

9. Many Window Covers In Place
the pull shades are the best

10. Minimal Over Lighting Issues
Refer to the Footcandle readings
Internal case lights generate heat & light
which does deteriorate materials more quickly

11. OBJECT CARE & PLACEMENT
• Hat Shop Went Thru Good Changes, always consider less
tripping hazards, rocker & forms. The cases were pulled away
from walls to increase the air flow & access to add to them.
 Hat Shop Before & After, the Chair was used as a stand to
remove the original 1925 Hat boxes from floor.
 Objects should not be hung off of edges.
 Hats are better off in the hat boxes which are a nice display
item. This eliminate dust long term.
 Mid-term can you add some type of storage boxes or
containers to the Hat & Sports room to include more of the
objects from storage to design more open storage concepts.

12. Sports has 3 double fixture fluorescents so 6
strips which is high. The Hat Shop floods were
reduced nicely with incandescent bulbs.

13. Hat Shop Went Thru Good Changes,
always consider less tripping hazards, rocker & forms.
The cases were pulled away from walls to increase
the air flow & access to add to them.

14. Hat Shop Before & After
Chair as a base to remove orig. Hat boxes from floor
Objects should not be hung off of edges.

15. Hat Shop 2014 changes by staff,
cabinet moved from storage to display

16. Suggestions
•
1. Hall clearance – Consider grouping on one side only instead of
back & forth.
2. Use more platforms to keep kick space free of protruding pieces.
3. Use same type of hangers in open storage displays to create
visual organization.
4. Consider the left side of the jail for table & extra storage instead of
restrooms.
5. Raise all items in lower level off concrete to reduce moisture
wicking. It was good to see an air space under any items on plastic
/ wood risers like metal shelf units or the raised Taxidermy cases.
6. Add sheet of plexiglass under all metal that touches the concrete.
Use any historic shelves to display objects.

17. Hall clearance / Space
Consider grouping on one side only instead of back & forth
Use more platforms to keep kick space free of protruding pieces

18. Use same type of hangers in open storage displays to
create visual organization

19. Spatial Plan- Consider the left side of the jail for
table & extra storage instead of restrooms.

20. Continue to place those small risers under all items in
the lower level to raise them off the concrete to
reduce moisture wicking.

21. It was good to see an air space under any items on
plastic / wood risers like metal shelf units or the
raised Taxidermy cases

22. Add sheet of plexiglass under all metal that
touches the concrete

23. Use any historic shelves to display
objects.

24. Mid-term
1. Mid-term move the negative case by the metal film storage downstairs.
Cool, damp is better than hot & dry.
2. Mid-term consider trying to group the nature & the taxidermy collections
together, but this would mean a well planned move project for room uses.
These should not be in the basement level because of the decay from
moisture issues.
3. Continue photo scanning project.
4. Place all large objects, tables or stools into displays instead of storage when
possible to increase air flow and add to display surface off the floor.
5. Do not accept more large objects without a space chosen first.
6. Move all shelving units to a hall for display and fill with any collection
objects. Try to free up the collections storage space to improve air flow. The
cabinet from front vault could fit in the other kitchen for display use. They
moved a nice cabinet into the kitchen and now have a more pleasing use-
display kitchen storage area.

25. Storage has the most projects needed.

26. Place all large objects, tables or stools into displays
instead of storage when possible to increase air flow
and add to display surface off the floor.

27. Continue to not accept large objects without a
space chosen first.

28. Move all shelves to halls for display even with the contents to
free up storage space & improve air flow. Paper is better stored
in boxes in the basement as it is a moisture equalizer.
Leave heavy items as is unless there is a plan.

29. Thanks, they found a nice pie safe to fit in the use
kitchen instead of the table cluttered with items.

30. Projects
• Consider making the natural history less wall oriented and fill the center
of the room with the flat cabinets and add any historic shelf units near
the walls to bring out more from storage. Then move the natural history-
taxidermy up from downstairs whenever possible to fill the wall areas. *
• Add any items possible to display spaces to make the space usable in the
Back wall vault storage.
• Do not disturb fur, wool until a pest treatment is planned in spring or fall
for the Vault Storage problems we discussed.
• Continue carriage blanket buffer & barrier rolling. I sent a few supply
samples with the draft.

31. Projects
• Move as many as possible of the uniforms & military accessories to
open storage exhibit area.
• Space out frames into top shelves and add in cardboard given at
visit.
• Panel paintings can be stored sideways if a cardboard is between
them.
• Add towel buffers inside plastic cases similar to pillowcase around
quilts.
• They completed the newsprint interleaving project I began with
the composite dolls.*

32. Continue photo scanning project
consider improving staff comfort

33. Continue moving items to display spaces to make the
space usable in the Back wall vault storage.

34. They completed the newsprint interleaving between
composite dolls that was begun during the visit.

35. Continue wool carriage blanket
buffer & barrier rolling for pest control.

36. Do not disturb fur, wool until a pest treatment
is planned in the Vault Storage upstairs.

37. Move all uniforms & military to open storage
exhibit area.

38. Space out frames into top shelves and add in cardboard given at
visit. Panel paintings can be stored sideways if a cardboard is
between them.

39. Mid term they intend to move the negative case by the metal
film storage downstairs. Cool, damp is better than hot & dry .

40. Add towel buffers inside plastic cases similar to
pillowcase around quilts.

41. Projects
• Use the acid free tissue to create balls & fill the underside
of the hats in the display.
• Move the empty camera cases & boxes near the cameras.
The objects double in value with those.
• Preserve the blueprints and scrapbooks in upright storage.
• Mid-term , I suggest large flat files be purchased and added
to the left side of the temporary exhibit room near the
Genealogy entrance. A minimum of two large files with 4
smaller files stacked on them. Half the space can be divided
for history & genealogy. This would add an upscale
appearance to the Archives internal entrance & add much
needed flat storage space for both collections.

42. Move the empty camera cases & boxes near the
cameras. The objects double in value with boxes.

43. Preserve the blueprints from the vault, rolled in an
upright cardboard box and the scrapbooks in leger
storage boxes so they can be on their spine.

44. Continue your work, at this beautiful site that
has possibilities to educate many about history.
Jennifer Hein conservatour@msn.com

45. Vault Collections Front Storage

46. You should be proud to say the Courthouse Museum
is a notable museum for the region.
Jennifer Hein conservatour@msn.com