Heather White and Dr. Paul Stavast, Anthropology

Introduction

Brigham Young University’s Museum of Peoples and Cultures has an extensive and varying collection of anthropological, ethnographic, and archaeological artifacts. Within these artifacts are leather items with metallic beading. These beads have been actively deteriorating, damaging themselves, the leather, the strings that keeps them sewn, and other items attached to the leather. The damage to such items is detrimental to the Museum, the collections and history of Brigham Young University, future researchers, and the Native American peoples whom these objects represent. The purpose of this project was to stop the above from happening by conserving the metallic beaded items created by the Native American people during the early 20th century.

Not only is this project of utmost importance to the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, whose duty it is to preserve and care for material objects that document the diversity of human experiences and reflect the multi-faceted fabric of the world’s culture, but it is also a matter of preserving the history of the people who created the object. These objects were collected from the Ute tribe during the early 20th century. Ute culture is of utmost importance to our state and country’s history; there is also a disconcerting lack of objects collected from Native American tribes during that time period. By preserving the object now, I am providing further research opportunities for future students, faculty, and community members as well as native peoples looking into their past. Even more importantly, I am helping to preserve a piece of history through material evidence of our native peoples from a time period when not a lot of information was collected.

Methodology

The process of conservation begins with examination and documentation, and then proceeds to treatment, and preservation. The purpose of conservation is to save objects of cultural heritage using any methods that prove effective in keeping the artifact as close to its original condition for as long as possible. In order for a conservator to apply their professional expertise accordingly, they must take into account the value and meaning of the object, and the physical needs of the material in order to decide upon an appropriate conservation strategy.

By following this process, I decided upon the best methods that would provide minimal intervention and use appropriate materials and methods that aim to be reversible to reduce possible problems with future treatment, investigation, and use. These methods were decided based on the research in the text “Conservation of Leather and Related Materials”¹ and the advice of Dr. Glenna Nielsen; Dr. Nielsen is the Collections Manager at the University of Utah’s Natural History Museum and has dealt with similar problems on Ute beaded material in Salt Lake.

Results

After detailed examination and documentation, I decided that the overall goal of this particular case was to remove copper salts that have developed on the beads. The object was too delicate to separate the bead from touching the leather with a piece of Mylar or acetate. The solution that was possible was to clean the beads with a 50/50 solution of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol to clean the beads. I dipped a small cotton swab in the mixture and worked slowly and carefully over each individual bead. Where possible, the threads holding the beads were tightened in order to keep the beads from falling off. Then, the beads were then coated with three to four layers of Acryloid (paraloid) B72 to secure the bead and thread from coming apart, as well as to slow the deterioration process. The B72 was distilled to a thin enough mixture in order to fall underneath the beads and coat around all sides. While the beads suffered a slight discoloration from this process, they show an overall better stability attached to leather. This process will help to preserve the beads and leather from deteriorating at the rapid rate they were previously.

Discussion

Although there was slight discoloration (see Images) after conserving the beads, by following through with the preservation process, the beads and the larger associated object have been saved for future use in further academic research by those interested in learning about their heritage, as well as students and faculty whose research may involve the beads’ location or time period. In discussions with the director of the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, we felt that the benefits of conserving these beads far outweighed the slight discoloration that occurred.

Conclusion

This project was beneficial to me as a museum professional and archaeologist who cares about preserving the past for our future. I was able to have actual artifacts to study and research and learn from. The subject itself became more meaningful that any simple text could carry. There was also a strong feeling of fulfillment through supporting the mission statement of the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, to allow current and future students, researches, descendants, and employees the benefit of knowledge. These objects are now stable enough to be used in an exhibit to benefit the general public and greater community, helping them learn and understand the rich history of Utah.

I was also able to have a better understanding of the job of a conservator. Their decisions are not easy because they constantly have to weigh the costs and benefits of what they want to do and whether or not that will help or hurt the object. Although this particular method caused discoloration, myself and The Museum of Peoples and Cultures decided that risk was better than the eventual loss of the object and piece of Ute culture.

¹ Kite, Marion and Roy Thomson. Conservation of Leather and Related Material. London; Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann (2006). Print.