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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9">Hi all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9">This is a great conversation, especially because In the near(ish) future our division and the fish division will begin this endeavor with our histology
collections. The thing we will grapple with most, however, is long-term storage of associated paraffin blocks. Does anyone have good suggestions for these collections, or has anyone already cracked this nut? I’ve not looked recently into this storage issue,
but years ago the only things I encountered were flimsy plastic or cardboard storage boxes with drawers used by the medical industry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9">Tonya, sorry to partially hijack your query, but hoping this related question will be useful to you as well!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9">Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9">Esther<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1001D9"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#323E4F">Esther M. Langan
</span></b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#323E4F">(she/hers)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#323E4F">Acting Collection Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#323E4F">Division of Amphibians & Reptiles
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#323E4F">tel</span></b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#323E4F"> 301.238.1057
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:black"><a href="mailto:lastnamefirstinit@si.edu" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#323E4F">langane@si.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#323E4F"><a href="https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/amphibians-reptiles"><span style="color:#323E4F">https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/amphibians-reptiles</span></a></span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#323E4F"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#00C1D5"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#00C1D5">SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Book";color:#00C1D5"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#00778B">NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#00778B">The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) complies with all U.S. export and sanctions laws, as well as fish, wildlife and other regulations applicable
to the importation and exportation of specimens and research materials. Please consider the country of origin and nature of any specimen, sample, object or material shipped to NMNH, and if applicable, ensure that it is properly licensed and otherwise compliant
with U.S. law prior to shipment.</span><span style="color:#1001D9"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu> <b>
On Behalf Of </b>Lazo-Wasem, Eric<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 14, 2023 9:12 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace) <Tonya.Haff@csiro.au>; nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] slide storage questions<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#9C6500">External Email - Exercise Caution</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Hi Tonya,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">I am sure you have heard enough already, but I will throw in my thoughts having addressed the situation recently. We received two grants grant to clean, rehouse, and
digitize nearly 50,000 slides amassed over more than 150 years. In fact, some were made from European specimens in the 1850s, and ours were housed in every conceivable type of slide trays or boxes. Slides ranged from cardboard (with fragment mounts), plastics
(paleo thin sections) and glass (whole mounts, appendages, thin and thick sections). Most of the pre-1900 slides were in filthy wooden boxes that had been in the basement of out museum since the 1920s. Here is what I have learned from all this:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">To handle variable slides, we purchased trays with tabs that house 1" x 3", 2" x 3", and for the odd sizes no tabs (plastic or magnetic dividers can isolate slides to keep
from moving). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Only balsam stood the test of time as a mounting medium. Glycerin and glycerin jelly routinely failed no matter how well sealed, synthetic medium such as Permount crystallizes
even in good storage conditions, and lactic acid based mountants will continue to clear until the specimen is only visible with DIC microscopy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Slides can be cleaned with DO or distilled water using a swab. We had an army of students paid to do this under the watchful eye of a conservator.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Slides stored any way other than flat in a tray will creep over time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Wooden boxes or slide cabinets not only off-gas, but create huge problems with dust and dirt, often by erosion as slides or trays are withdrawn. Not seemingly a problem
at first, but use these for 50 years or more and the residual dirt is considerable. Plastic boxes can work well, but they must be marked carefully - I can't tell you how many times I have seen box opened wrong and 100 slides fall from their slots in a terrible
mess - I have done this myself!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">When available, resources permitting, cabinets with powder coated finishes, including the slide trays, work well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">To get away from the traditional problem of labelling, especially when there is no room left on the slide, we printed a 1" x 3" (or 2" x 3") label with all relevant data
and placed it under the slide (slides held in place with tabs, so nothing can slip). This was especially helpful in the case of type slides (thousands) were we can instantly see the relevant citation history, etc. without first consulting the database.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Lastly, we use storage codes for our cube slide cabinets, referencing cabinet (we have 27 that hold up to 2400 slides each) and tray number. With the labelling indicated
above, it is easy to find a particular slide or slides as needed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Best, Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Eric A. Lazo-Wasem, Senior Collections Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Division of Invertebrate Zoology<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Peabody Museum of Natural History<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Yale University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">170 Whitney Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">New Haven, CT 06520<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(203) 432-3784<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">From:</span></b><span style="color:black"> Nhcoll-l <<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>> on behalf of Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace) <<a href="mailto:Tonya.Haff@csiro.au">Tonya.Haff@csiro.au</a>><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 13, 2023 7:22 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a> <<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] slide storage questions</span> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Hello all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">I wonder if any of you have experience with archival microscope slide storage – I have a few long-term slide storage questions. We have a lot of histological and other microscope slides that need to be rehoused - for
some preferably in boxes and others preferably in slide cabinets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">First, I would love to know people’s thoughts on whether or not there a problem with storing slides in slide boxes long-term? I’m talking about the type where the slides are on their edge, not laying flat. If it is
not a problem, is it acceptable to use polystyrene boxes in this case? They seem to be the only ones I can (easily) find online, but I know that polystyrene is not an archival material. I also have slides that are stored flat in boxes, but they too need to
be rehoused because of a problem with mould growing in the cardboard boxes they’re in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">This leads me to also ask if any of you have good references or suggestions for the best way to transfer slides from boxes into slide cabinets? Or more to the point, what is the best way to manage the data about each
slide, which is often written on a piece of paper or cardboard in the slide box itself? I see this as a both risky and time consuming part of rehousing the slides.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Finally, we have slides of different sizes – a standard side and an extra wide size. Do any of you have thoughts on if there is an ideal way (or an ideal box) to house such slides?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Your thoughts and advise would be, as usual, very welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Tonya<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">-------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Dr. Tonya M. Haff<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Collection Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Australian National Wildlife Collection<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">CSIRO<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU">+61(0)419569109<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.csiro.au%2Fen%2Fabout%2Ffacilities-collections%2Fcollections%2Fanwc&data=05%7C01%7Clangane%40si.edu%7C468edea468934baecc0808db0e957e82%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638119807467984715%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=St37%2F5Bg9pPiwuGzbhMX5Rm37u%2BCVLaRgJVuLnssPY0%3D&reserved=0">https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/collections/anwc</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span lang="EN-AU"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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