Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections March 2018 - 26

Profiles
Describe the nature of the collections you work
with.
The AMNH Natural Science Collections Conservation
(NSCC) lab and the Registrar's office work with all sorts of
collections, research specimens (zoological, fossil, minerals,
etc., all prep types), mounted specimens (taxidermy, mounted
skeletons), anthropology collections, et al., except for an
herbarium).
What are your responsibilities for them?
I manage the day-to-day operations of the NSCC and the Office of the Registrar. Though the two overlap in some ways,
they are quite distinct in many others.
The NSCC provides oversight for natural science collections
conservation as well as preservation and risk management
planning for the collections museum-wide. The mission of
the lab is to oversee disaster preparedness, response and risk
management initiatives; act as a resource for Collections and
Exhibition Department personnel on storage, display, moving/transport and treatment of collections; conduct research
to further natural science collections preservation; develop
museum-wide standards for collections care; and conduct
treatment, as necessary, on natural science specimens.
The AMNH Office of the Registrar implements Museum policies and procedures encompassing acquisitions, exhibitions
loans, deaccessions, temporary storage, packing and shipping,
security in transit, fine art insurance administration, and compliance with state, federal and international regulations. The
AMNH Registrar role has become a specialist role, requiring
in-depth knowledge of national and international ethics and
legislation as well as the upholding of national and international guidelines, standards and best practices.
Describe some of your activities.
Of late, our efforts have been focused on exhibits, due to
increasing capital improvements, exhibit hall renovations,
new buildings and an ambitious temporary exhibition program. Preparing and tracking objects as they move through
the stages of prep for any exhibit gets quite complex, particularly when the total objects to track and prep approaches the
thousands!
One project that we are particularly excited about is the
AMNH taxidermy conservation project. During the renovation of the dioramas within the AMNH, Hall of North American Mammals, AMNH conservators were challenged with
figuring out how to recolor faded taxidermy using reversible
methods that would ensure the long-term preservation of
the specimens. Through innovative methods and extensive
research, we developed a new method for treatment that we
believe will change the landscape of taxidermy conservation for years to come. See for yourselves at our project blog
26 * SPNHC Connection

https://intheirtruecolors.wordpress.com/. We are indebted to
IMLS for their continued support for this (and many other!)
important projects and programs at AMNH.
The NSCC staff is focused increasingly on preventive care
and is working closely with staff in other departments (collection care, facilities/operations, exhibitions) in developing
these programs to be more robust. The NSCC lab is also
moving in a direction of a research facility working toward
development of improved materials and techniques used for
natural science collection care and conservation.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I expect that the release of the new volume, Preventive
Conservation: Collection Storage will be one of the most
important things I've worked on to date that will benefit the
larger collection management and conservation communities. Collaborating with SPNHC 'stars' like Rob Waller, John
Simmons, Cathy Hawks and Chris Norris has been an honor.
Their vision and their efforts have shaped the way the Society has advanced and I'm proud to have my name listed with
theirs.
However, working at the American Museum of Natural History for nearly a quarter decade is what I am most proud of.
Every morning as I walk into this grand and historic building
I think how lucky I am and I feel happy. The institution is
constantly changing and advancing science and the opportunities I have been and will continue to be provided with here
are endless.
What do you find most fulfilling about your work?
I feel most fulfilled when I see past and current AMNH
conservation or registrar interns, students or staff go on to do
great things (and do them better than I can!!). To me, this is
the ultimate accomplishment.
What have you learned from SPNHC to be particularly helpful? How has SPNHC helped you?
That maintaining close friends and colleagues over the years
will advance you more than anything really. I am confident
that I wouldn't be where I am today without the help and support of the SPNHC community. They are an inspiring, committed group of professionals-many have dedicated more
than significant portions of their lives to SPNHC efforts and
to the care of natural science collections.

Looking for a job? Check out our jobs board:

SPNHC.org - Job Opportunities

https://intheirtruecolors.wordpress.com/ https://spnhcnews.wordpress.com/category/job-opportunities/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections March 2018