[NHCOLL-L:4795] New Angle.RE: RE: oology curation query

Mon Apr 5 06:50:42 EDT 2010

I "inherited" an oology collection when I started working here - have
never had much occasion to add to it nor any questions over curation.
All of our eggs were stored in clear plastic boxes partially filled with
a very fine white sand. The sand seems to conform nicely into little
bowls to cushion the eggs, I've never seen any moisture build up or mold
or any other problems I've observed. In 30 years working with the
collection occasionally, they all seem fine. Does anyone know of any
short-comings of this type of storage?

By the way, the plastic boxes had also been used for skulls in our
mammal collection, which I quickly replaced because of the interaction
of PDB with the plastic. Fortunately, when I started they had not been
in these boxes long enough for any to "melt" over the skulls, but the
typical discoloration and distortion was present. Since our egg
collection was all very well dried - we use no pesticides at all in that
collection and have never had any observable problems with the boxes nor
with the eggs. 

I'm eager to hear from others what they think about using the sand to
cushion the eggs.

Bob

====================

Robert C. Glotzhober                  614/ 298-2054

Senior Curator, Natural History    bglotzhober at ohiohistory.org

Ohio Historical Society               Fax: 614/ 298-2098

________________________________

From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Bryant, James
Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 12:59 PM
To: nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4792] RE: oology curation query

I endorse the recommendations of all the others, plus one more
subjective view: the polyester batting has less nap, and I find the
fluffy nap of cotton to be a nuisance when used as packing for very
light objects, like birds eggs. It can snag on the tiniest irregularity
or projection, and when you move the cotton batting it often drags the
specimens along with it. I just don't see this with polyester.

I can definitely verify the discoloration and off-gassing Simon
mentions. I have used the packing method described in the first volume
of the SPNHC storage book set in a couple of instances, with what I feel
were excellent results.

James M. Bryant

Curator of Natural History

Museum Department, City of Riverside

3580 Mission Inn Avenue

Riverside, CA 92501

(951) 826-5273

(951) 369-4970 FAX

jbryant at riversideca.gov

________________________________

From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of CAHawks at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 7:28 AM
To: nmccartn at uark.edu; nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4791] RE: oology curation query

I concur with Simon and Gretchen. If cotton isn't truly just
alphacellulose fiber it will oxidize and even if it is, it attracts and
hold moisture near the eggs, which can promote Bynes if there are any
sources of organic acids in the air around the collection. Use a
high-loft, non-bonded 100% polyester fiber.

Cathy Hawks

In a message dated 4/2/2010 7:45:46 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
AndersonG at CarnegieMNH.org writes:

I vote for polyester for all of the reasons already stated.

For broken shells I recommend using tyvek - the soft variety.  Crumple
it to further soften it so that it almost form fits to the cavity in the
polyester batting. place broken shells within.  It is softer than normal
acid free tissue and less abrasive. 
If you use tissue - know that buffering agents are usually calcium
carbonate - so that would work well with shells.

Gretchen Anderson
Conservator
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
andersong at carnegiemnh.org

________________________________

From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Couteaufin at aol.com
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 3:58 PM
To: rissanen at museumca.org; nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4788] RE: oology curation query

Hi Carolyn,

Polyester batting is (so far) totally inert in egg collections. 

I have come across cotton wool wadding that has oxidised over time
(yellowed) and with a slightly higher-than-normal RH (c. 60%) and an oak
cabinet with VOCs, which gave rise to a mild form of Byne's disease.
This resulted in a vinegary smell, a weakening and/or thinning of the
shell and a total loss of the all important egg markings!

With all good wishes, Simon

Simon Moore MIScT, FLS, ACR,
Conservator of Natural Sciences,
20 Newbury Street,
Whitchurch RG28 7DN.
 www.natural-history-conservation.com
<http://www.natural-history-conservation.com/>  

http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve 

In a message dated 02/04/2010 23:01:28 GMT Daylight Time,
rissanen at museumca.org writes:

	We have been using polyester because it seems cotton would be
attractive to
	some pest or other.  I would appreciate seeing others' opinions.

	Carolyn

	Carolyn Rissanen
	Registrar, Natural Sciences
	Oakland Museum of California
	510-238-3885
	www.museumca.org

	-----Original Message-----
	From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu]
	On Behalf Of nmccartn
	Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 2:08 PM
	To: 'nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu'
	Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4784] oology curation query

	Hello, everyone:

	I am about to rehouse our egg collection, and have had advice of
using  
	cotton or polyester as padding in our Durphy plastic boxes which
will  
	be in two nice new Viking cabinets. Would the cotton be
attractive to  
	insects? Any advantage to one or the other?

	In terms of tissue paper for broken shells (hopefully just a
few)  
	should I get buffered or unbuffered?

	Anything else I should consider?

	Many thanks in advance.

	NMcC

	Nancy Glover McCartney, PhD
	Curator of Zoology
	UA Collections Facility
	2435 Hatch
	Fayetteville, AR 72701

	http://fulbright.uark.edu/collections/

	Phone: 479-575-4370
	FAX: 479-575-7464

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