issue 40 - national center for preservation technology and ... · title: issue 40 author:...
TRANSCRIPT
NCPTT NotesNational Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior
FPI: What’s Your Responsibility to Preservation?
Connie Ramirez displays the FPI brochure at NCPTT’sboard meeting in November, 2001.
(continued on page 2)
The Newsletter of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
By Constance Ramirez
How can the National Park Serviceenhance training regarding historicpreservation for federal agencies? Whois the audience? What are its needs?How should training be delivered?Where should we start? These were thequestions to which Kate Stevenson,associate director of the National ParkService for cultural resource steward-ship and partnerships, wanted answers.
She recognized that interagencytraining was perhaps the principalremaining mandate of the NationalHistoric Preservation Act yet to be ful-filled. In the spring of 2000, she askedme to explore the potential for a sig-nificant new training initiative. Thanksto the generosity of the U.S. GeneralServices Administration, I was detailedto the National Park Service to work onthis.
As I prowled the halls of the federalagencies, seeking insights, guidanceand ideas, I realized there was no his-toric preservation information on thewalls or on the tables of the variousoffices where senior officials greeted
Could it be that senior executiveswere unaware of the responsibilitiesgiven to every federal agency by theNational Historic Preservation Act?Could this be a reason why the FederalPreservation Officers have trouble get-ting funds for their agencies’ historicpreservation programs, for hiring staffand for integrating preservation re-quirements with their individual mis-sions?
As I hopped from office to officefor the 15-minute meetings, there wasnever time to talk in-depth about as-pects of the National Historic Preserva-tion Act, Section 110, Section 106, or anyof the other passages of brilliant legisla-tion. No one had time. In-depth con-versations were to be held with thetechnical staff, since they already knewa great deal on the subject. And, in-deed, that was true. Most agencies hadat least one person in Washington whohad extensive technical knowledge ofarcheology, historic buildings, adverse
Conference Series toAddress Public Safetyin PreservationLife safety and making public placessecure are now paramount issuesfacing the government and privatesectors at all levels. On Jan. 22, 2002,the National Park Service, in coop-eration with private and govern-mental partners, will present a con-ference focusing on how this envi-ronment will affect the historiccharacter of America’s cities andtowns.
Titled “Balancing Public Safetyand the Protection of HistoricPlaces,” the conference will includediscussion on how to make publicplaces as secure as possible whilerespecting the historic character ofpublic buildings, structures, land-scapes, transportation systems,neighborhoods, and parks. As thefirst in a series, this meeting willimmediately precede the mid-winterU.S. Conference of Mayors meetingand will provide speakers, case stud-ies, and breakout sessions to launcha national dialogue on meetingpublic safety needs while preservingirreplaceable historic resources.
Major issues expected to bediscussed include risk assessment,lessons learned from experience,and commonsense approaches tosensitive protective measures.Speakers have been invited fromNew York, Washington D.C., thePentagon, and experts in risk assess-ment, electronic surveillance,
... Could it be that senior ex-ecutives were unaware of theresponsibilities given to everyfederal agency by the NationalHistoric Preservation Act?
me. Posters and mugs and leaflets forsaving energy, protecting endangeredspecies, equal employment opportuni-ties and alternative dispute resolutiontechniques were strewn around—yetnothing on historic places or the agen-cies’ preservation responsibilities.
(continued on page 11)
NCPTT IN THE 21ST CENTURY:Forum brings together preservationprofessionals from around the world.page 4
PRACTICAL PRESERVATION:Learn how to clean those silver bellsafter Christmas.page 8
ALSO:Ground penetrating radar: 3Nelson Hall Dedication: 5Mary Carroll takes new position: 10
2 • National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
...
National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior
NCPTT NotesJanuary 2002
EditorMary Striegel
Copy EditorsLance Ellis
Andy FerrellJeff Guin
DesignerJeff Guin
ContributorsKevin Ammons
Paul BensonAndy Ferrell
Robert GilmoreDeborah Long
Sheila RichmondMary Striegel
Constance RamirezRichard Walbauer
NCPTT Notes is published by theNational Park Service’s Center forPreservation Technology and Train-ing. The mail list for NCPTT Notes issubject to request under the Free-dom of Information Act. Persons oforganizations not wanting to havemail list information disclosedshould unsubscribe.
Send comments to NCPTT Notes orsubmit articles or notices for consid-eration to [email protected].
Copyright 2002 PTT Publications
FPI informs agenciesof preservationresponsibilities:(continued from page 1)
effects, and even cultural landscapes.After reporting my experiences to
Kate Stevenson, she decided to estab-lish the Federal Preservation Institutewith five major components.
First, we wanted to stay in contactwith our primary user group, the Fed-eral Preservation Officers. We createdthe Federal Training Working Group asthe forum to meet monthly to exchangeinformation on important current is-sues, program developments, and train-ing. A critical feature of each gatheringis a short training presentation on aspecific topic, such as emerging tech-nologies beneficial to historic preserva-tion. In the first year, 36 different agen-cies and six organizations, includingthe National Association of Tribal His-toric Preservation Officers, the Na-tional Conference of State HistoricPreservation Officers, and the NationalTrust for Historic Preservation wererepresented at these meetings.
Second, the Federal TrainingWorking Group confirmed our experi-ence that training is least available forsenior executives, political appointees,and those engineers, foresters, lawyersand others who are collateral dutyprofessionals. So we decided to makeawareness for senior officials our firstpriority, and, through the collaborativeefforts of 18 federal agencies, we pro-duced a briefing brochure, HistoricPreservation: A Responsibility for EveryFederal Agency.
Third, we learned that no one hasvery much time for training and thatthe faster we can deliver the essentialmessage, the more likely it will reach itsaudience. So we decided to develop aseries of online “get smart quick” infor-mation sites. Rather than have theseburied beyond the reach of Google, weentered into a partnership with GeorgeMason University to develop aninternet learning portal that is a seman-tic website connecting users to specificinformation that they need. The firsttopic for the “get smart quick” series is
consultation with Native Americans oncultural resource issues that we aredeveloping in collaboration withNorthwestern State University of Loui-siana.
Fourth, we recognized that thereare “hot topics” in preservation thatspring up. Federal agencies need infor-mation and training that improve theirresponsiveness and can contribute totimely identification of sound alterna-tives in problem-solving. So, we areinitiating a series of conferences inJanuary 2002 on “Balancing PublicSafety with Protection of HistoricBuildings.” The focus will be integrat-ing protection of historic places intopreparedness plans. Speakers fromCongress, the Architect of the Capitol,federal agencies, and state and localleaders are participating in this dialog.
Fifth, and finally, we are identify-ing the specific historic preservationtasks common to Federal PreservationOfficers and their staffs so that trainingin the necessary knowledge and skillscan be obtained. We want to identifycurrently available training as well asways to address training gaps. Thiswork builds on previous interagencywork at the National Park Service andwill be available to all on our website inabout a year.
Though the Federal PreservationInstitute is brand new, we hope it iswell on its way to respond to the man-dates in the National Historic Preserva-tion Act for the Secretary of the Interiorand the National Park Service to take aleadership position in development oftraining for federal agencies. Throughthe work of Kate Stevenson, the Insti-tute has been staffed, its needs inte-grated into the budget, and its pro-grams are expanding. For more infor-mation, e-mail us at:[email protected].
Constance Ramirez is directorof the Federal PreservationInstitute: (202) [email protected].
NCPTT Notes • January 2002 • 3
For many people, their introduction tothe concept of ground penetratingradar came at the beginning of themovie, Jurassic Park, when scientistsused pulses to locate and view the bur-ied fossils of dinosaurs. But ground-penetrating radar is used in a widevariety of archeological and preserva-tion-related applications as well.
In November 2001, the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture’s Forest Servicehosted the first of two user workshopson interpreting archeology groundpenetrating radar data. The workshopwas held at the University of Arkansasin Fayetteville, Arkansas. A 2001PTTGrant made the workshops pos-sible.
Ground penetrating radar is a toolfor archeologists and historic preserva-tion researchers to discover and maparcheological sites, historical features,and artifacts. The technique is becom-ing popular because it is fast, accurate,and can produce images of buried re-mains. The focus of the workshop was
hands-on interpretation of groundpenetrating radar imagery. Participantscollected data from a field test site andprocessed and imaged the data. Partici-pants were required to have some pre-vious experience in collecting groundpenetrating radar data and in imageprocessing.
Ken Kvamme, from the Depart-ment of Anthropology and Center forAdvanced Spatial Technologies at theUniversity of Arkansas, was the host ofthe workshop. Additional facilitatorsincluded Dan Delea (GeophysicalSurvey Systems, Inc., North Salem,NH), Larry Conyers (Department ofAnthropology, University of Denver,Denver, CO) and Dean Goodman(Geophysical Archeometry Laboratory,University of Miami Japan Division,Japan).
The first day of the workshop in-cluded surveying and sampling strate-gies for collecting field data at historicMount Comfort Church and Cemetery.Participants learned to setup grids,determine settings for filters, gain and
Kenneth L. Kvamme, workshop host from the Universityof Arkansas, Fayetteville, provides general instructionto participants.
What Lies Beneath: Workshops Focus on GPR
... Ground penetrating radar isa tool for archeologists andhistoric preservation re-searchers to discover and maparcheological sites, historicalfeatures, and artifacts ...
Dan Delea, instructor from Geophysical Survey Systems,Inc., instructs University of Arkansas graduate studentJenny Bales in the use of the GSSI SIR-system 2000.
resolution, and reviewed potentialproblems and solutions associated withcollecting data. In the afternoon theybegan processing and interpreting data.Participants learned techniques forbackground removal and cleaning upthe data. In addition, they looked atdata migration techniques.
The second and third days of theworkshop focused on further dataprocessing options and useful softwarepackages, such as Quickdraw,GPR_Slice, and GPR Sim. They alsocompared their results with other tech-niques such as electrical resistivity andmagnetometry. To learn more aboutthe workshop, visit <http://www.uark.edu/depts/anthinfo/GPR-workshop.htm>.
A second workshop is planned forspring 2002 and will be held at the Uni-versity of Georgia, in Athens. Indi-viduals interested in participating inthe workshop may contact Dr. KentSchneider, manager, Heritage Educa-tion Program with the USDA ForestService, (404) 347-7250, e-mail:[email protected].
This 3-D graphic represents the goal of the workshop:to produce plan views of the archeology at variousdepths below the surface. The data were collectedduring the workshop by the participants using GSSIequipment. They are from the historic Mount ComfortChurch, 1840s-1863. Besides serving as a church, itwas used as a school in the 1840s and a field hospitalduring the Civil War, during which it burned. Today,there is no surface evidence, though immediatelybelow the surface lie the brick remnants of the historicfoundation, detectable and mappable through GPR.
Photos courtesy of Ken K
vamm
e
4 • National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
Preservation Professionals Gather for Forum
Above: Mary Striegel, NCPTT materials research director, performs her demonstration “Fun With Microscopy”for forum guests. Below: Jim Judge, NCPTT board member, facilitates one of the forum discussions.
By Andy Ferrell
Following the dedication of Lee H.Nelson Hall, NCPTT held a two-dayforum, “Charting NCPTT’s Role inPreserving America’s Heritage in the 21st
Century.” Preservation professionalsfrom across the United States came to-gether for an informal town meetingwith NCPTT leadership and staff to laythe groundwork for a business plan thatwill ensure the Center’s future success.
Thirty-nine participants in the fo-rum had an opportunity to voice theiropinions in five facilitated sessions.Topics within sessions included:1. Technology and Historic Preservationin the 21st Century – What’s Needed?2. Who? What? Where? Technology andResearch – Where Is It Happening?3. Defining NCPTT’s “Market Niche” –We Can’t Do It All4. A New Way of Doing Business – HowBest Can NCPTT Serve Its Mission? and5. Developing NCPTT’s Business Plan:A Road Map for Preservation Technol-ogy in the 21st Century.
Over the past seven years, NCPTThas served the historic preservationcommunity in several different ways: asa research and training facility, a clear-inghouse for information on preserva-tion technology, and a source of grantfunding. Now, NCPTT is reflecting onthe past with an eye toward refining theCenter’s evolving role in developingand delivering preservation technologyto meet the needs of the preservationcommunity in an ever-changing world.
Participants recognized that preser-vation is very different today than it was50 years ago when Lee Nelson and asmall group of professionals created thepublic policy that became the basis forthe practice of historic preservation inAmerica. The field is practiced in awider, more inclusive context in the 21st
century.Following the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, preservationmoved away from historic house muse-ums and toward historic districts andentire cultural landscapes. As preserva-tion embraced a greater variety of build-ings, landscapes and objects, a greaterdiversity of people embraced preserva-
tion. In more recent times, preservationprofessionals are considering early 20thcentury buildings and problems inher-ent in their often-innovative buildingmaterials and systems.
Similarly, the digital revolution hashad a tremendous impact on historicpreservation. Greater numbers ofpeople have access to the informationsuperhighway and demand immediateaccess to preservation information in anunderstandable and easy-to-use format.Therefore, the efficient dissemination ofpreservation information is critical.
NCPTT’s mission is to use technol-ogy to address the growing number andvariety of preservation/conservationproblems. Forum participants acknowl-edged the need for NCPTT to re-focusresources on the core business of preser-vation technology. All research, train-ing, and information managementprojects, grants, publications, work-shops and conferences are best used tosupport the development and/or appli-cation of technology for preservation.In addition, technologies must be de-veloped to the point that they are readyfor use by practicing preservationistsand conservators.
While assisting the development oftechnologies is a critical function ofNCPTT, the results of those efforts mustbe effectively communicated to be
meaningful. Forum participants dis-cussed the potential for creating a cen-tralized hub through NCPTT for pres-ervation technology information.Drawing upon content from the forumdiscussion, NCPTT is currently rework-ing and updating its website to providepertinent information in an intuitive,user-friendly format.
Andy Ferrell is public outreachcoordinator at NCPTT:(318) [email protected]
NCPTT Notes • January 2002 • 5
Honored guests and friends.On behalf of my family, wethank everyone for comingto this dedication. It is agreat honor and privilegefor our family to be here.
The germ of an ideaborn about 35 years ago inPhiladelphia has actuallyhappened. Lee’s idea for anational preservation tech-nology center was nurturedand brought forth periodicallyduring the 1970’s and 80’s,never quite getting past the talking stage.
In 1992, Congress provided for thecreation of such a center with support bySenator Johnston. With the help ofNorthwestern State University of Louisi-ana past President Robert Alost and cur-rent President Randy Webb, National ParkService people such as Blaine Cliver, JohnRobbins, Pat Tiller and others, the ideawas brought to fruition and now has apermanent home in this historic building.
It is most fitting that the NationalCenter for Preservation Technology andTraining finds itself in a historic structureand it’s certainly a use of the buildingthat would have made Lee proud andhappy.
Technology and training are almostsynonymous for Lee and his interests. Hehad envisioned a career in the teachingfield, but he was fascinated by technol-ogy, especially innovative treatments forhistoric structures using new materials.Fortunately for preservation, he was able
Building Dedication Recognizes Legacy of Lee H. NelsonBy Kevin Ammons
On November 7, nearly 200 guests anddignitaries gathered on the south lawnof Lee Nelson Hall, in Natchitoches,Louisiana, for the building’s formaldedication. Nelson Hall became hometo NCPTT in June 2001 after a multi-million dollar renovation.
Named for a pioneering preserva-tion architect in the National Park Ser-vice, the structure is the oldest buildingon Northwestern State University’scampus and formerly served as theWomen’s Gymnasium.
Laura Soulliere, superintendent ofthe nearby Cane River Creole NHP,served as the event’s emcee. JoiningSoulliere in the ceremony were Rev.John Karle, Christ the King LutheranChurch; Randall Webb, NSU President;Katherine Stevenson, NPS associatedirector for cultural resources steward-ship and partnerships; Robert Collins,Louisiana deputy state historic preser-vation officer; Wayne McCullen, Nat-chitoches mayor; Neville Agnew, PTTboard chair; Robert Melnick, dean ofthe School of Architecture and AlliedArts at University of Oregon; ChiefRufus Davis, Caddo-Adai Tribe; andLois Nelson, wife of the late LeeNelson.
While Robert Melnick’s keynoteaddress dealt with Nelson’s life work inthe field of preservation, others remem-bered him as a friend, and colleague.All agreed that Nelson would havebeen proud to know that his long-standing idea for a national center de-voted to preservation technology hadfinally come to fruition in a historicbuilding.
After the formal ribbon cutting,dedication participants were invited toattend several tours highlighting therehabilitation of Lee Nelson Hall andthe work of NCPTT. Wayne Coco,AIA, project architect for the rehabilita-tion of Lee Nelson Hall, presented aslide presentation on the buildingproject. Mary Carroll, NCPTT infor-mation management director, demon-strated the Clearinghouse portion ofthe NCPTT website. Mary Striegel,NCPTT materials research director,made a presentation on microscopy in
to pursue both intereststhroughout his career.
As more architectsbecame interested in enter-ing the historic preservationfield, it became importantfor them to receive thenecessary training to buildskills needed in the careand treatment of historicstructures. He felt that acenter dedicated to historicbuilding technology andresearch could find answers
to the preservation problems architectsface. In the meantime, he put his effortsinto educating those architects and thepublic about historic preservation. Thiswas accomplished through the develop-ment of the “Secretary of the Interior’sStandards for Historic PreservationProjects,” the “Preservation Briefs” series,the “TechNotes” series and many otherarticles and papers. He was a mentor tohis staff and encouraged them to re-search a topic, write about it and share itwith others.
Our family is very pleased that youhave honored Lee’s contributionsthrough the rehabilitation and renamingof this historic building. It is our hopethat Lee’s dream for the center and hiswritten efforts will inspire those whowork in this place as they endeavor tofind new ways to preserve historic struc-tures and to share that information withothers.
Thank you all very much.
Transcript of Lois Nelson’s Remarks, Nov. 7, 2001
one of NCPTT’s labs while ElizaBethBede, NCPTT Dupont fellow, demon-strated the environmental chamber inanother lab. The final presentation wasa laser cleaning demonstration by MegAbraham of the Los Angeles CountyMuseum of Art.
Events began on November 6, 2001with a cocktail buffet at Nelson Hall.After the buffet guests were treated witha concert gala celebrating Americasponsored by NSU’s Creative and Per-forming Arts Department.
Kevin Ammons is programanalyst for NCPTT:(318) [email protected]
Lois Nelson (center) cuts the ceremonial ribbon alongwith NSU’s Randy Webb and NPS’s Kate Stevenson.
6 • National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
One of the keys to relieving America’sovercrowded and crumbling schoolsalready exists in communities aroundthe country. Two respected organiza-tions are recommending that commu-nities renovate historic schools in theirarea for additional space rather thanrely entirely on new construction.
The Council of Educational Facil-ity Planners International (CEFPI) andNCPTT aim to place the choice ofrenovating historic neighborhoodschools on the same level as new con-struction in the decision process thatdeals with issues of capacity and condi-tions of school buildings.
“Innovation and renovation cango hand-in-hand when modern prac-tices in construction and technologyare used in these rehabilitationprojects,” said Regie Teague, CEFPIpresident.
DeVilbiss and Binks Spray Prod-ucts has partnered with OwensCommunity College to present aSpray Finishing TechnologyWorkshop. This three-day inten-sive training program is scheduledfor Feb. 20-22, 2002, in Toledo,Ohio. Classes meet from 8:30 a.m.to 4 p.m. daily and include bothclassroom and hands-on sessions.Two continuing education unitswill be awarded. Attendees shouldbe involved with industrial, con-tractor, or maintenance spray fin-ishing applications, or sprayequipment sales and distribution.Topics for the Spray FinishingTechnology Workshop include:
· Equipment types and selection· Equipment set-up, operation, andmaintenance· Surface preparation and defectanalysis· Material selection· Safety and regulatory concerns
To register, contact the OwensCommunity College Center forDevelopment and Training, toll-free at (800) 466-9367 ext. 7357. Foradditional information please con-tact Dr. Richard A. Kruppa, work-shop coordinator, by e-mail [email protected] orby phone at (603) 778-2481. Infor-mation is also available online atwww.owens.cc.oh.us/CDT
DeVilbiss and Binks pioneeredthe development of spray finishingequipment more than 100 years agoand continue to refine and im-prove processes for spray finishing.The Center for Development andTraining at Owens CommunityCollege is dedicated to partneringwith industry to provide focusededucation and training programsfor traditional and non-traditionalstudents.
each organization. As stated in the co-operative agreement, “Historic neigh-borhood schools have touched thelives of millions of Americans, yet thesetreasured icons and community institu-tions are being abandoned, demol-ished, and replaced at an alarming rate.These national landmarks are disap-pearing along with the surroundingcommunity where neighborhoods andyoung people grow.”
CEFPI and NCPTT will collabo-rate to author, edit and publish a re-vised version of the Appraisal Guide,incorporating case studies on the reha-bilitation of historic schools as an in-strument for appraising historic schoolfacilities. These two organizations, eachregarded as an authoritative organiza-tion in its field, are working together toshare their expertise in order to im-prove educational opportunities forstudents.
NCPTT will provide technicalinformation on the rehabilitation(renovation, alteration and conver-sion) of historic schools, includingassessments, in the following areas:structural soundness, operational andmaintenance efficiency, conditions ofmechanical systems, and compliancewith safety codes and accessibility.
The trend of building shoppingmall-sized schools outside towns alien-ates students, encourages sprawl andweakens the sense of community. CEFPIand NCPTT are asking schools andtowns to look at existing resources, andare offering recommendations to do soin the most practical way.
Spray FinishingWorkshopScheduled
Schools Get a New Lease on Life
“Innovation and renovationcan go hand-in-hand whenmodern practices in construc-tion and technology are used inthese rehabilitation projects.”
“Historic schools are not only val-ued landmarks but also community an-chors around which neighborhoodsand young people grow,” says MarkGilberg, NCPTT’s applied research andtechnology transfer director.
A cooperative agreement betweenCEFPI and NCPTT has been forged toshare the knowledge and influence ofLocated in the historiccenter of Wincester, Massa-chusetts, this 25,000 squarefoot addition to the historicMcCall Middle Schoolreflects the neo-classicalappearance of the originalbuilding.
The new space, de-signed by HMFH Architects,Inc., Cambridge, MA,provides students with abrand new library/mediacenter, eight new class-rooms, and four sciencerooms.
McCall Middle Schoolwas awarded the Project ofDistinction Award at therecent Council of Educa-tional Facility PlannersInternational conference inDenver, CO.
Photo by Anton Grassl
NCPTT Notes • January 2002 • 7
By Sheila Richmond
Two goals of the Louisiana HeritageEducation Program (LHEP) are toenhance education and to instill asense of stewardship in students. To-ward accomplishing these goals, withinthe past year, LHEP has conductedworkshops for teachers, sponsored aMini Grants program for teachers,aided in the redesign of a college-levelcourse, and begun the development ofa heritage education website. None ofthese endeavors would have been pos-sible without our partners.
Northwestern State University ofLouisiana (NSU), on whose campusNCPTT is located, has proven to be amost valuable resource. For workshopsfor the teachers, NSU provided meet-ing rooms and opened computer labsfor teachers to use. Staff at the CammieG. Henry Research Center provided atutorial on using archives. The Louisi-ana Creole Heritage Center, Regional
plication of curriculum standards andthe development of assessments. TheLouisiana Center for EducationalTechnology has offered guidance forlesson development and online presen-tation. The Region VI Service Centerprovided their lab and a brief tutorialin INTECH (INtegrating TECH-nology in the Student-Centered Class-room). Even schools around the statehave in some aspect partnered withLHEP by allowing their teachers toparticipate in the program.
In the preservation community,several state agencies have been mosthelpful. The State Historic Preserva-tion Office, combined with the Officeof Cultural Development (OCD), hasprovided printed material and presen-tations for workshops and online re-sources. Administrative duties for theLHEP Mini Grants program are pro-vided by the Division of Archeology,OCD. The Louisiana Office of StateParks also provided material and al-lowed site visits during the summerinstitute for teachers. The LouisianaPreservation Alliance, a National Truststatewide program, provided scholar-ships for teachers to their workshopand has disseminated LHEP informa-
Sheila Richmond is heritageeducation coordinator atNCPTT: (318) [email protected]
Heritage Education Partners for Learning
... LHEP has conductedworkshops for teachers, aidedin the redesign of a college-level course, and begun thedevelopment of a heritageeducation website.
Folkorist Program, and Department ofSocial Sciences provided material andstaff for a tour of the Cane River area.Archeologists from Department ofSocial Sciences provided materials,presentations, and a site visit. Both theEducation Technology and ElectronicLearning departments provided guid-ance for the development of thewebsite. Staff at the College of Educa-tion presented workshops, aided teach-ers in developing lesson plans andassessments, and are working on theredesign of courses.
The Louisiana Department ofEducation has also been a prominentcontributor to LHEP. Staff have helpedto conduct workshops, providedprinted and online resources for teach-ers, and have aided teachers in the ap-
Jonathan Fricker (left), deputy state historic preservation officer, and Laura Soulliere (right), superintendentof Cane River Creole National Historical Park, are among the partners who help make Louisiana Heritage Edu-cation a reality.
tion. The nearby Cane River CreoleNational Historical Park, a nationalpark and valuable resource, providedmaterial, presentations, and site visits.
Although some of these partner-ships are of a formal nature with properpaperwork and signatures, most areinformal, cooperative endeavors,fueled by the shared vision of heritageeducation. All provide guidance andadvice when asked, materials and re-sources when needed, and a network ofinformation not matched by any singleorganization.
8 • National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
How to Keep Your Silver SterlingBy Deborah LongObjects ConservatorGerald R. Ford Conservation CenterNebraska State Historical Society
In the course of caring for silver objectson display in the home, one recognizesthe necessity to do more than simplyprovide preventive care measures. Ob-jects that have been damaged, mis-handled, or have become tarnishedoften do not accurately reflect the ap-pearance originally intended by theartist or maker. Procedures discussedin this article are for decorative silverobjects that are on display and/or inuse in the home. They are not appro-priate for ethnographic or archeologi-cal materials.
While the procedures listed beloware sometimes necessary, they shouldnot be undertaken lightly, because per-manent damage to an object couldresult from their misapplication. Con-sult a conservator in order to assess allthe issues relating to the care of thespecific object in question.
Examine The ObjectThe structural integrity of your objectis of paramount importance due to theamount of handling required by theseprocedures. Periodically, it is prudentto examine an item that is still in use tomake sure it can safely withstand thestress associated with use. Look forcracks, weak areas, old repairs, andloose or missing parts. Once you havethoroughly examined the structuralcondition, consider the surface of theobject.
Terry Weisser and Chandra Reedy learn how to clean silver at a workshop sponsored by NCPTT at the Gerald R.Ford Conservation Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
tively stable corrosion on the surface ofan object.
Another type of coating sometimesfound on silver is a gold layer over partof the object. This coating is variouslycalled parcel gilt, vermeil, or goldwash. This type of surface is extremelythin and very easily damaged or lost.Aggressive cleaning and polishingtechniques can cause it to be lost en-tirely.
If the object is determined to bestructurally sound, proceed with cau-tion. Materials and techniques usedshould be extremely gentle to avoidcausing unnecessary deterioration.Avoid the use of commercial polishes,as many contain corrosive chemicalssuch as ammonia or harsh abrasivesthat can permanently damage delicatesurfaces.
The materials and techniques listedbelow have been tested by conservatorsand found to be safe and effective whenused in a careful and sensitive manner.
PreparationProvide a clean, well-ventilated workarea for the cleaning process, includinga padded work surface, adequate light,and sufficient ventilation to removefumes. Place a clean piece of cottonflannel, soft muslin or other soft cotton
on the table as a work surface. Wear aclean white cotton smock or apron toprotect your clothing. Use thin filmsof clear polyethylene to mask out anynonmetallic elements, such as woodenor ivory handles, to protect them dur-ing cleaning.
CleaningRemove any loose dirt or dust by dust-ing lightly with a soft brush. Do notuse dusting cloths as they will notreach into small crevices, and canscratch objects if trapped grit is rubbedover surfaces. Be very careful not toscratch the surface of your object.
Old polish residues trapped inrecessed areas are a common problemfound when cleaning silver. Manycommercial polishes contain waxycomponents that cause the abrasives tobe stuck to the surface. These can usu-ally be removed by applying a fewdrops of dilute detergent solution .Gently agitate with a soft sable paint-brush to help loosen embedded mate-rial, then rinse thoroughly with cleancotton swabs dampened in distilledwater. Avoid scratching the surfacewith old polish and accumulatedgrime. Change swabs often to reducerisk and use a rolling rather than rub-bing motion.
... When examining the surface,to determine if there is an origi-nal surface coating ...
When examining the surface, deter-mine if there is an original surface coat-ing. In some cases this is simple. Othercoatings, however, may not be so easilyseen. An important type of decorativeand protective surface often applied tosilver alloy objects is patina. A patina isa thin chemically induced layer of rela-
Photos courtesy of Deborah Long
NCPTT Notes • January 2002 • 9
Silver Cleaning Resources:Unbleached cotton flannel is avail-able from Testfabrics, Inc.
Latex gloves are available in manyhardware stores and medical supplycompanies.
Precipitated calcium carbonate andRenaissance® Wax can be purchasedfrom Conservation Support Sys-tems, Santa Barbara, California,(800) 482-6299.
Selvyt® buffing cloths and naturalbristle buffing brushes are availablefrom jewelers supply companies.
Your Silver May Tell a Story
In some cases, light tarnish can beremoved from silver or copper alloyobjects by simply wiping the surfacewith cotton moistened with diluteddetergent solution, then rinsing withclean, distilled water. In order to deter-mine if your silver needs polishing, testclean a small area with detergent solu-tion and examine the results to see ifthis is necessary. If polishing is notneeded, wipe the object gently withpieces of flannel or loose cotton damp-ened with detergent solution, changingthem frequently to prevent surfaceabrasion. Rinse the surface by wiping itwith clean cotton dampened with dis-tilled water and allow the object to drycompletely in a warm, dust free envi-ronment.
PolishingIf polishing is necessary, mix a smallamount of precipitated calcium car-bonate (do not substitute ground chalkor whiting as it will scratch) and deter-gent solution together in a shallowdish. The mixture should be approxi-mately the consistency of cream.
Apply a small amount of polish tothe object with a small piece of cleanflannel or a wad of loose cotton, rub-bing gently in a circular motion. Re-place the cotton or flannel often as youwork so that you are not merely grind-ing the removed tarnish and used cal-cium carbonate back into the surface. Acotton swab may be lightly used toremove tarnish in recesses, althoughcomplete removal of tarnish is undesir-able.
It takes very little calcium carbonateto polish an object—a common mistakeis to use too much. Keep in mind that
By Paul L. BensonNelson Atkins Museum of Art andRobert S. GilmoreGeneral Electric Research and Development
The hallmarks on objects made fromsilver or gold can reveal much aboutthe history of the piece. The name ofthe master smith, the town where heworked, the date of manufacture, taxespaid on the piece, and the quality of
the metal can all be determined by read-ing the hallmarks.
The history of an object, and tosome extent, its value, is intrinsic in theability to read and decipher the variousmarks found on them. This informa-tion is of great importance to curators,historians, collectors, and even socialanthropologists who can trace themovements of individual smiths andsometimes entire families through their
hallmarks. Without these marks theobjects can be appreciated only likearcheological objects taken out of con-text, i.e., they are still appreciated fortheir beauty but they have no history.
The use of hallmarks on preciousmetal objects has a long and sometimestroubled history. The first recognizeduse of hallmarks was on Byzantinesilver objects dating from the sixth
even the finest polish is an abrasive thatworks by removing a microscopic layerof silver from the surface of your ob-ject. The more often you polish, thefaster you will remove surface detailand crispness of design.
Once polishing has been com-pleted, remove residues by rinsing thesurface with cotton dipped in cleandistilled water. At this point, changethe pads on the table and change yourgloves so that you are working on aclean surface. Dry the object thor-oughly by wiping with a clean, dry,piece of flannel.
If your silver is for purely decora-tive purposes and you want to displayit, you may want to apply a protectivecoating to keep it from tarnishing tooquickly.
Apply a Protective CoatingIn the home environment, silver
can be protected from water and airborne pollutants with a simple coat ofwax. Apply a small amount of microc-rystalline wax to a soft clean dry clothor very soft brush and rub it over theentire surface of the object. Do notapply too much wax. Wait a momentand buff the wax with clean pieces ofold silk or nylon stockings. Thesematerials will not leave lint trapped inthe wax. Wax has a flat plate-like struc-ture and buffing helps align and com-press the plates for a more completeand protective coating. If you acciden-tally leave unbuffed wax on the surfacetoo long, apply a small amount of freshwax to soften the dried wax and buffimmediately.
To maintain the wax coating, peri-odically dust the object with a soft
natural bristle brush and check forevidence of tarnishing. The waxshould provide good protection forapproximately one year, depending onthe environmental conditions and theamount of handling the object receives.When tarnish is noted, remove the oldwax with mineral spirits and reapply asdescribed above. For objects on perma-nent display, consider having a conser-vator professionally clean the objectand apply a stable organic resin coat-ing.
Safety IssuesWhen working with solvents, alwaysfollow all recommended safety precau-tions noted on the containers. Mineralspirits are strong, reactive chemicalsand their fumes are be harmful to yourhealth if not used as instructed. Alwaysbe aware of the location of the nearestfire extinguisher when working withflammable solvents and waxes.
(continued on page 11)
10 • National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
.
By Richard Walbauer
The Federal Preservation Institute(FPI), a program of the NCPTT, in co-operation with Northwestern StateUniversity of Louisiana, is developinga website to provide essential informa-tion about historic preservation andNative American issues. The websitewill identify available legal mandates;policy statements and guidance; sum-marize available technical assistance andtraining; and provide contact informa-tion for tribal governments and federalagencies.
The Federal Preservation Institutehosts monthly meetings of Federal Pres-ervation Officers from a broad range ofgovernment agencies. These officers areresponsible for developing, maintain-ing, and implementing cultural heritageprograms within their agencies’ mis-sions. They identified improvements inconsultation with Native Americans as ahigh priority need for their programs.
Federal Preservation Officers fre-quently consult with tribal groups onthe preservation of Native Americancultural resources. They must meet therequirements of laws such as the Na-tional Historic Preservation Act(NHPA) and the Native AmericanGraves Protection and Repatriation Act
Mary S. Carroll,NCPTT’s informa-tion managementprogram director,has accepted a po-sition as archeolo-gist within the Ar-cheology and Eth-nography Pro-gram of the Na-tional ParkService’s National Center for Cul-tural Resources. In her new position,Carroll will work with parks to en-sure NPS compliance with the NativeAmerican Graves Protection and Re-
patriation Act (NAGPRA).Carroll will begin her new posi-
tion in Washington D.C. on Dec. 17,2001. The Archeology and Ethnogra-phy Program provides national coor-dination for the protection, preserva-tion, and interpretation of America’sarcheological and ethnographic re-sources in the National Park systemand beyond. For more informationabout the Archeology and Ethnogra-phy program see www.cr.nps.gov/aad.
Carroll served as NCPTT’s infor-mation management program direc-tor for seven years. Her work in-
cluded overseeing the developmentand implementation of NCPTT’saward-winning website:www.ncptt.nps.gov.
During Carroll’s tenure, NCPTTfunded numerous IM activities fo-cusing on 1) delivering substantivepreservation-related information viathe World Wide Web, 2) applyinginnovative computer technologiesto the management and dissemina-tion of information, and 3) develop-ing strategies for long-term preserva-tion of and access to digital informa-tion.
Carroll assumes new role with NPS
FPI/NSU developing website on Native American Issues
(NAGPRA) in the context of the gov-ernment-to-government relationshipbetween the United States and tribes.
In addition, federal preservationofficers must be aware of a broad rangeof ordinances enacted by tribal govern-ments. Many tribes have offices and or-ganizations that manage heritage pres-ervation. Also, there are now more than30 Tribal Historic Preservation Officesthat operate preservation activities un-der the guidelines of NHPA.
The variety of laws and develop-ment of groups responsible for thepreservation of Native American cul-tural heritage provides new opportuni-ties to improve interactions and activi-ties through a web-based knowledgecenter.
The Federal Preservation Institute’s
Native American Consultation websitemay play an important role in fulfillingthis need. FPI is currently collectingavailable information and organizing itfor review and comment. Informationwill be sorted into simple categoriessuch as legislation, sample agreements,case studies, glossary, and links andcontacts. FPI is also seeking informa-tion about preservation consultationswith tribes. If you have available docu-ments, publications, websites, reports,or other useful information that you arewilling to share, please contact the insti-tute. FPI is particularly interested inhearing about your valuable learningexperiences that resulted in improvedformal policies and procedures.
The variety of laws and devel-opment of groups responsiblefor the preservation of NativeAmerican cultural heritageprovides new opportunities toimprove interactions and ac-tivities through a web-basedknowledge center.
If you can help ...Please send information to:Richard Walbauer,Federal Preservation InstituteNational Park Service (NCAP-330),1849 C Street, NWWashington, DC 20240,e-mail: [email protected]/343-4113.
NCPTT Notes • January 2002 • 11
historic collections protection, andsecurity and preparedness planning.Those who may benefit from thisconference include mayors andother public officials; federal, state,and city security and historic preser-vation staffs; public entities, and theprivate sector.
Assisting the National Park Ser-vice in presenting this conference arethe Advisory Council on HistoricPreservation, the National Trust forHistoric Preservation, the AmericanInstitute of Architects, the U.S. Con-ference of Mayors, the U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers, and the Associa-
century AD, although their meaninghas not been clearly defined. In 1260,France became the first Europeancountry to use hallmarks as an indica-tor of silver followed by England in1300. In England, the importance at-tached to these hallmarks was substan-tial as seen in the penalties attached toaltering or incorporating a master’slegitimate hallmark into the work ofanother smith: heavy fines, imprison-ment, loss of body parts, transport, anddeath.
Silver’s susceptibility to tarnishingrequires a thin layer of metal must beremoved each time it is polished toreturn the metal to its bright lustrousfinish. Through time then, enoughmetal may be removed that the hall-marks can become illegible or maydisappear altogether, resulting in theloss of important historic information.
Fortunately, when the hallmarksare stamped into the metal, the metaldeforms. When the surface image isworked away, information may still besaved in the residual deformation ofthe metal beneath the surface.
Scientists can use sound waves toimage residual deformations within ametal. An acoustic beam is focused onthe surface to be studied and the re-flected sound waves are analyzed.Changes in the amplitude of the soundwaves are measured and imaged on aCRT screen. This method is non-con-tact and no samples are taken from themetal. Therefore, even though thehallmark may be completely polished-off, it may still be possible to recover animage of it.
Imaging has been accomplishedusing the scanning acoustic micro-scope (SAM) at the Schenectady, NewYork, facilities of General Electric Re-search and Development. SAM uses atechnology first proposed in 1929 butnot fully developed for subsurfaceimaging until the early 1970’s.
The imaging process uses shortelectrical pulses applied to a transducerto create the acoustic beam at ultrasonicfrequencies. Then the acoustic beam isfocused either on the surface or be-neath the surface of the object. An im-
age is acquired by raster scanning theultrasonic beam across the object andacquiring echo amplitudes along thescan lines. The echo pulse is capturedby the transducer and is converted intoan electrical pulse with the amplitudeof the pulse modulating the brightnesson a computer screen to create the im-age line-by-line.
High frequencies are used to createthe images. Because air is too thin totransmit the acoustic beam at thesefrequencies, a liquid carrier must beused to carry the acoustic beam be-tween the object and the transducer.This means that the silver object mustbe placed in the liquid carrier. Aperfluoro hydrocarbon medium waschosen instead of the usual water me-dium because of its superior acousticproperties in our application. Thisliquid is non-corrosive to both silverand gold and is environmentally(ozone) friendly.
Images 1-3 demonstrate the quality
(continued from page 9)
of the image recovery possible with thismethod. A sterling silver coupon washallmarked by a trained silversmith andthen the marks were polished-off justto the point where they were no longervisible.
By processing the surface wavesproduced by the acoustic pulses on thesilver an image was obtained of theinvisible (polished-off) hallmarks. Theword individual letters in the word“sterling” could not be resolved due totheir small size and the overlappingdeformation created when the silverwas struck.
Experimentation on a small num-ber of silver objects from various timeperiods has generally produced goodresults but further tests need to be per-formed on a larger sampling of objectsto determine the limits of the imagingprocess. Co-author Benson is veryappreciative to both the NCPTT andRobert Gilmore of General Electric fortheir generous funding of this project.
tion of Partners for Public Lands.Persons interested in registering
should send an e-mail with theirname, telephone and email address [email protected]. There will be aregistration fee ($185) that will in-clude continental breakfast, lunch,and afternoon refreshments. A blockof rooms has been reserved for con-ference participants at the CapitolHilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.,for the night of Jan. 21st.
Questions or recommendationsfor topics and speakers may be sent toConstance Ramirez [email protected] or by telephone at202-343-9569.
Safety Workshop:(continued from page one)
Silver Tells a Story:
Image 1:Sterling Silver couponwith hallmarks
Image 2:Coupon with hallmarkspolished off
Image 3:Coupon withrecovered image of hallmarks
History Rediscovered
12 • National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A
United States Departmentof the InteriorThe mission of the Department of theInterior is to protect and provide accessto our Nation’s natural and culturalheritage and honor our trust responsi-bilities to tribes.
National Park ServiceThe National Park Service preservesunimpaired the natural and culturalresources and values of the NationalPark System for the enjoyment, educa-tion and inspiration of this and futuregenerations. The Service cooperateswith partners to extend the benefits ofnatural and cultural resource conserva-tion and outdoor recreation throughoutthis country and the world.
NCPTTNCPTT promotes and enhances thepreservation and conservation of prehis-toric and historic resources in the UnitedStates for present and future genera-tions through the advancement anddissemination of preservation technol-ogy and training.
National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior
National Center for PreservationTechnology and Training645 College AvenueNatchitoches, Louisiana, 71457
Official BusinessPenalty for Private Use, $300
First Class Mail
Postage and Fees
P A I D
National Park Service
Permit No. G-83
National Park Service
Fran P. Mainella, Director
Katherine H. Stevenson,Associate Director, CulturalResource Stewardship andPartnerships
NCPTT
Pat Tiller, Acting Director
Dr. Mark Gilberg, Applied Research andTechnology TransferProgram Director
Dr. Mary F. Striegel,Environmental andMaterials ResearchProgram Director
Kevin Ammons, Program AnalystElizaBeth A. Bede, DuPont FellowLance Ellis, Information Technology
AdministratorAndy Ferrell, Public Outreach CoordinatorJeff Guin, Education InternRodney Harrison, WebmasterAngela Leger, ReceptionistSheila Richmond, Heritage Education
CoordinatorAndy Sanders, Public Outreach InternDeig Sandoval, NSU/NCPTT Joint FacultyBrooke Slemmons, Information Management
InternMary Ellen Servello, Executive Secretary
Preservation Technologyand Training Board
Dr. Neville Agnew, ChairThe Getty Conservation Institute
Dr. James Huhta, Vice ChairThe Center for Historic PreservationMiddle Tennessee State University
E. Blaine Cliver, Secretary of the Interior’sNPS/HABS/HAER Representative
F. Blair Reeves, FAIASchool of Architecture, University of Florida
Dr. Alferdteen Harrison,Margaret Walker AlexanderNational Research Center
Dr. W. James Judge,Fort Lewis College
Dr. Elizabeth Lyon
Mr. Nicholas Gianopulos,Keast & Hood Co.
Gerri Hobdy
Ms. Christy McAvoy,Historic Resources Group
Norman Koonce, FAIAAmerican Institute of Architects
Roy Graham, FAIACatholic University
Eddie Tullis,Creek Indian Enterprises