Rehousing a ‘Working Collection’: Perspectives from the Johns Hopkins University Archaeological Museum

Abstract

Using the Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum (JHAM) as a case study, this article explores the unique approaches used to rehouse a collection with a core teaching mission. Unlike the collections of more traditional museums, the JHAM's holdings are meant to be used by students, faculty, and researchers as a means of pursuing knowledge. Supporting this pedagogical mission requires innovative rehousing approaches that protect the collection while ensuring its use. This paper discusses recently implemented rehousing strategies that emphasize high visibility, ease of accessibility, and guided handling of objects, and considers the unique challenges and advantages of providing access to such a collection. Rehousing is also posited as only one aspect of collections care; rather, the authors propose that a more holistic approach to the long-term preservation of objects in the museum's care encompasses not only their physical stability through rehousing and conservation, but also the stability and stewardship of their provenance histories and collection data. The ultimate goal of these various modes of care should be ensuring that the collection “works” such that the use of objects maintains and extends their meanings and utility.

Keywords:

• Rehousing
• teaching collection
• university museum
• archaeological objects

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Connie Cox Bodner for her guidance throughout the grant process. The authors thank the museum's director Betsy Bryan and its Faculty Advisory Committee and acknowledge the tremendous contributions of the student staff at the JHAM between 2010 and 2016. We are also indebted to the many museum professionals who shared their expertise particularly during the planning phases, including Vicki Cassman, Sean Charette, Suzanne Davis, Diane Fullick, Helen Ingalls, Claire Larkin, Emily Kaplan, Lara Kaplan, Michele Marincola, Kelly McHugh, Nancy Odegaard, Susanna Pancaldo, and Lori Trusheim.

ORCID

JENNIFER TORRES http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7215-280X

Sources of Materials

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Volara

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Résumé - En utilisant comme exemple le Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum (JHAM), cet article présente l’approche particulière utilisée pour relocaliser une collection, pour laquelle l’enseignement constitue l’objectif principal. Contrairement aux musées plus traditionnels, les collections du JHAM sont réservées pour l’utilisation par les étudiants, les enseignants et les chercheurs, dans un but d’acquisition des connaissances. La mise en œuvre de cette mission pédagogique a nécessité des approches innovantes pour protéger la collection, tout en permettant son utilisation. Cet article présente des stratégies récemment mises en place qui favorisent une grande visibilité, un accès facile et une manipulation encadrée des objets. On y traite aussi des défis particuliers et des avantages à donner accès à une telle collection. La relocalisation ne constitue qu’un aspect du soin des collections ; les auteurs proposent une approche plus holistique qui comprend non seulement la stabilité à long terme des objets, atteinte grâce à la relocalisation et la conservation, mais également la garde et la gestion des données sur leurs origines et de toute autre information recueillie. L’objectif ultime de ces différents modèles de préservation devrait faire en sorte que le fonctionnement de la collection permet l’utilisation des objets, tout en prolongeant à la fois leur signification et leur utilité. Traduit par André Bergeron et Bruno Pouliot.

Resumo - Utilizando o «Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum» (JHAM) como um caso de estudo, este artigo explora as abordagens únicas utilizadas para reinstalar uma coleção cuja missão central é o ensino. Ao contrário das coleções de museus mais tradicionais, as colecções do JHAM são destinadas a ser usadas por estudantes, por professores e por investigadores com o objectivo de perseguir o conhecimento. Apoiar esta missão pedagógica requer métodos inovadores de reinstalação que assegurem a protecção da colecção e, simultaneamente, a sua utilização. Este artigo discute estratégias de reinstalação recentemente implementadas que enfatizam a alta visibilidade, fácil acesso e o manuseamento orientado de objetos; e considera os desafios e vantagens únicos de implementar o acesso a tal coleção. Reinstalar também é postulado como apenas um aspecto do cuidado das coleções; em vez disso, os autores propõem uma abordagem mais holística para a preservação a longo prazo de objetos ao cuidado do museu abrangendo, não apenas, a sua estabilidade física através da reinstalação e conservação mas, também, a estabilidade e a administração do seu historial de proveniência e dados da colecção. O objetivo final destas várias formas de cuidado deve ser a garantia de que a coleção “funciona” de tal forma que o uso de objetos mantém e amplia os seus significados e utilidade. Traduzido por Teresa Lança Ruivo e Beatriz Haspo.

Resumen - Utilizando el Museo de Arqueología de Johns Hopkins (JHAM) como un estudio de caso, este artículo explora los enfoques únicos utilizados para reacondicionar el almacenamiento de una colección que tiene como misión central la enseñanza. A diferencia de las colecciones de museos más tradicionales, las colecciones del JHAM son para ser utilizadas por estudiantes, profesores e investigadores como un medio para aumentar el conocimiento. Para apoyar esta misión pedagógica se requieren sistemas innovadores que protejan la colección y garanticen su uso. Este documento discute las estrategias de reacondicionamiento recientemente implementadas que hacen hincapié en la alta visibilidad, facilidad de acceso y manipulación guiada de los objetos, y considera los desafíos y ventajas únicas de proporcionar acceso a dicha colección. El reacondicionamiento también se postula como sólo un aspecto del cuidado de las colecciones. Los autores proponen que un enfoque más holístico de la preservación a largo plazo de los objetos bajo el cuidado del museo, abarca no sólo su estabilidad física a través del reacondicionamiento y la conservación, sino también la estabilidad y la protección y administración de sus historias de procedencias y datos de recolección. El objetivo final de estas diversas maneras de cuidarlos debe ser garantizar que la colección “funcione” de tal manera que el uso de los objetos mantenga y amplíe sus significados y utilidad. Traducido por Amparo Rueda.

Additional information

Funding

Several grants made the rehousing and documentation project presented here possible. The authors are grateful to the Dean's Office of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences of the Johns Hopkins University for initial funding, followed by support from a gift from JHU alumna Marjorie Fisher. Since 2014, the project has continued with generous grant funding awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Museums for America program (Award Number MA-30-14-0339-14).

Notes on contributors

Jennifer Torres

Jennifer Torres received her MA from the George Washington University in Museum Studies with a concentration in collections management. She is currently the collections technician at the JHAM where she rehouses and digitally documents the museum's collection with funding support through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Address: Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum, 150 Gilman Hall, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.

Katherine J. Gallagher

Katherine J. Gallagher is the collections manager/registrar at the JHAM. She received her MA in Anthropology and her MA in Museology from the University of Washington. She has worked as a field archaeologist and archaeological laboratory analyst and manager, as well as museum registrar. Address as for Torres. Email: [email protected].

Sanchita Balachandran

Sanchita Balachandran is the curator/conservator of the JHAM and Lecturer in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at Johns Hopkins University. She teaches courses related to the technical study and analysis of ancient objects, as well as the history, ethics, and practice of art conservation. She completed her graduate work in art history and art conservation at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. Address as for Torres. Email: [email protected].

Lisa Anderson

Lisa Anderson is a rehousing specialist with extensive experience at the National Museum of American Indian and the Textile Museum. Address as for Torres. Email: [email protected].