Destructive Preservation
A Review of the Effect of Standard Preservation
Practices on the Future Use of Natural History Collections


By Stephen L. Willaims
September 1999
Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis
ISBN: 9173463582
219 Pages, Illustrated, 8 3/8 x 10 7/8"
$68.50 paper original


This book discusses the latest practices to preserve natural history collections, including procedures associated with the stabilization, processing, storage, and maintenance of osteological materials. Other areas considered include the geosciences, botany, and physical anthropology.

Chapters include: Role of Professionalism in the Conservation of Cultural Property; Means of Preservation; Nature of Osteologival Materials; Stabilization of bone, collages, genetic information; Non-chemical processing of bone, collagens, skulls, teeth; Storage of teeth and bone; Labeling bone and collagen molecules; Types of damage with Natural History Materials; Institutional Leadership, Staff Quality, Problems, Maximizing the use and value of existing collections, Developing high standards, Expanding education and professionalism; Seven detailed appendices.


Natural History; Preservation of Bone & Collagen
Goteborg Studies in Conservation, No. 6

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