[NHCOLL-L:5360] Care of Metals course starts Monday

[Helen Alten]

There is still space available in NSCC's Care of Metals course which 
starts on Monday.  If you are interested in the course, please contact 
helen at collectioncare.org
*
MS223: Care of Metals*
Instructor: Helen Alten
Price: $475
Dates: Apr 4 to May 13, 2011

*Description:*
Outdoor sculpture, silver tea service, gold jewelry, axe head, wheel rim 
- metals are found in most museum collections and may be stored or 
displayed indoor or outdoors depending on the object. Learn how to 
identify different types of metal and their alloys. Gain an 
understanding of how and why metals deteriorate and methods for 
preventing deterioration from occurring or continuing. The pros and cons 
of different popular treatments will be covered along with 
recommendations for the least damaging approach to treatment. Care of 
Metals provides a simplified explanation of the chemistry and structure 
of metals, explaining the importance of the galvanic series and 
electrochemistry in care strategies. Starting with an overview of the 
history and function of metals and how they are made, the course will 
cover guidelines for handling, labeling, exhibiting and storing metals. 
An overview of treatments, including cleaning, used on metals and how 
appropriate they are for the long-term preservation of the metal object 
will help students make care decisions when consulting with conservators.

*Course Outline:*
1. Introduction
2. History, chemical and physical properties of metals
3. Fabrication technology
4. Documentation and Condition Report Writing
5. Metals and the Environment
6. Handling Metals
7. Treating Metals
8. Care of Metals in Storage
9. Care of Metals on Exhibit
10. Conclusion

*Logistics:*
Participants in Care of Metals work through sections on their own. 
Materials and resources include online literature, slide lectures and 
dialog between students and the instructor through online forums. The 
course is limited to 20 participants.

Care of Metals runs four weeks. To reserve a spot in the course, please 
pay at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html If you have trouble 
please contact Helen Alten at helen at collectioncare.org

*The Instructor:*
*Helen Alten*, is the Director of Northern States Conservation Center 
and its chief Objects Conservator. For nearly 30 years she has been 
involved in objects conservation, starting as a pre-program intern at 
the Oriental Institute in Chicago and the University Museum of the 
University of Pennsylvania. She completed a degree in Archaeological 
Conservation and Materials Science from the Institute of Archaeology at 
the University of London in England. She has built and run conservation 
laboratories in Bulgaria, Montana, Greece, Alaska and Minnesota. She has 
a broad understanding of three-dimensional materials and their 
deterioration, wrote and edited the quarterly Collections Caretaker, 
maintains the popular www.collectioncare.org web site,and lectures 
throughout the United States on collection care topics. Her publications 
include articles on care of cast iron wood stoves and silver polishing 
and care. Her work on metals includes archaeological iron, bronze and 
silver, coins, jewelry, weapons, outdoor and indoor sculpture, and 
historical items including early electric stoves, scientific equipment, 
and household items. Helen Alten has been a Field Education Director, 
Conservator, and staff trainer. She began working with people from 
small, rural, and tribal museums while as the state conservator for 
Montana and Alaska. Helen currently conducts conservation treatments and 
operates a conservation center in Charleston, WV and St. Paul, MN.

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