[Nhcoll-l] mercury in collections

[Hawks, Catharine]

Hi Peter

There are numerous publications that refer to the use of mercury with museum specimens.  I have attached three that may have bibliographic information that would be useful.

We have monitored extensively for mercury vapor volatilized from treated herbarium specimens, vertebrate specimens, invertebrate specimens, mineral specimens, and ethnographic objects here at the  NMNH, as have other institutions. Staff in museums with technology, history, and decorative arts collections have done so as well.

If you would like to explore this further, it might be easiest to have a phone conversation to narrow down the types of information that would be most pertinent for your study.

Cathy
_______________________________
Catharine Hawks
Conservator
Collections Program
MRC 170 Rm M85-J
National Museum of Natural History
10th Street & Constitution Ave NW
Washington DC 20560
w 202.633.0835 or 4041  c 703 200 4370
hawksc at si.edu<mailto:hawksc at si.edu>

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
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From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Peter H Wimberger
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2018 1:34 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] mercury in collections


Hello all,

We have been doing some work on mercury in museum specimens and are interested in finding more reports/papers that document the use of mercuric chloride or corrosive sublimate in museum collections.  In addition we would be interested in learning the results of mercury tests done on specimens, if folks are willing to share those.

Does anyone know who produced the mercury products that were used in collections in the 19th and early 20th centuries?

Thanks very much,

Peter

Peter Wimberger
Director, Slater Museum of Natural History
Albertson Professor, Biology and Environmental Studies
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA  98416-1088



Peter Wimberger
Director, Slater Museum of Natural History
Albertson Professor, Biology and Environmental Studies
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA  98416-1088

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