[NHCOLL-L:5019] RE: Labeling rocks and fossils

[Opitz, Cindy]

We use the following for object marking, which is widely available (here from Talas, but also from Gaylord, University Products, Northern States Conservation Center, etc).

"Paraloid B-72 Lacquer
Archival Storage  >  Tags and Labeling Supplies
  	
The current choice by museums for labeling and cataloging collections. Used as a removable base coat on an object to protect it from writing directly on the object itself. This lacquer is a 25% solution of paraloid (acryloid) B-72 in acetone, the opaque being tinted white with titanium dioxide.

1.25 oz. wide mouth jars, with brush in cap applicator.

Clear is used for the labeling of light colored objects. Opaque for the labeling of dark colored objects.

An appropriate pen to use is our Pigma Pen which is acid free.
Related Information: Click here for instructions.
 

  	Item 	Description 	Price	Quantity
  	TPD017001 	Clear 	$ 7.75 	
  	TPD017002 	Opaque (white) 	$ 7.75"


Cindy Opitz
Collections Manager
Pentacrest Museums: Museum of Natural History
and Old Capitol Museum
11 Macbride Hall
The University of Iowa
Iowa City IA 52242
319-335-0481
www.uiowa.edu/~nathist
www.uiowa.edu/~oldcap


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Pellegrini, Rodrigo
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 2:11 PM
To: 'NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu'
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5018] Labeling rocks and fossils

Dear colleagues,

My museum has used a water-based correction fluid as a base layer to label catalog numbers onto our rock and fossil collections for many years (and later coated said number with nail polish). I'm well aware that such labeling is not the best practice for most other collections, but it is still generally accepted for rocks and fossils as far as I know (something akin being described as such in "The New Museum Registration Methods," Buck and Gilmore, Eds.)

I haven't heard of anything new on the subject, but was curious what those of you that have geological collections under your care use.
I'm quite frankly tired of rehydrating dried-up correction fluid bottles that were never opened, and feel something like acrylic-based white paint might be better.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Info I should be aware of? I would much appreciate any help and to hear your thoughts and experiences on this topic.

Best wishes,

Rod

Rodrigo Pellegrini, MA, MS
Registrar, Natural History Bureau
New Jersey State Museum
PO Box 530
Trenton, NJ 08625-0530
USA

Voice: (609) 292-5615 (office)
       (609) 826-3924 (laboratory)
       (609) 826-5449 (storage)
Fax: (609) 292-7636
E-mail: Rodrigo.Pellegrini at sos.state.nj.us
www.newjerseystatemuseum.org