Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. RE: Ventilation Holes in Archive Boxes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Jo Lynne Posted: Friday December 26, 2025 5:12 AM Subject: RE: Ventilation Holes in Archive Boxes Message: Hi, A microclimate container assists in keeping a stable and constant mini environment. Your boxes appear to be constructed from cardboard which as a wood product will off gas creating an inhospitable environment rather than a safe one. As far as the holes, there has been much said about the pros and cons. One thing not mentioned is the aspect of holes in containers holding entities whose source community believes in their animism. These items would need the holes to have air to breathe. Just another thought. ~ jo lynne ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 12/2/2025 2:26:00 AM From: Helene Tello Subject: RE: Ventilation Holes in Archive Boxes Dear Emily, All of the received comments are useful and thoughtful. Still I wonder on the importance of a microclimate inside the boxes .... Overall you will get more input by contacting the BibTox group <https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/cas/units/departments/art-conservation/our-people/melissa-tedone/> [email protected] <[email protected]>. to consider the a) Material of the boxes. Are they acid free and/or free of other harmful substances? b) Are harmful substances on the archival materials to be expected sourced by pesticides like inorganic or organic active ingredients (arsenic, mercury, DDT, thymol, lindane, etc.)? I guess probably nobody has ever tested these issues. To my knowledge they are most important to decide which boxes should be in use. Please reach out at any time if need. All the best, Helene P.S.: May be the attached contribution is useful for you. Dr. Helene Tello Fellow IIC Fulbright scholar Hornstr. 20 10963 Berlin E-Mail: [email protected] <[email protected]> Web: www.helenetello.com <http://www.helenetello.com/> Mobil: +49-(0)178-5756674 ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2078-4821 <https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2078-4821> NEUERSCHEINUNG Schädlingsbekämpfung in Museen. Wirkstoffe und Methoden am Beispiel des Ethnologischen Museums Berlin 1887 - 1936 https://www.vandenhoeck-ruprecht-verlage.com/AuthorProfile/index/id/108589/name/Helene+Tello <https://www.vandenhoeck-ruprecht-verlage.com/AuthorProfile/index/id/108589/name/Helene+Tello>, ISBN: 978-3-412-52460-9, Böhlau Verlag Köln, 1. Auflage, 2022. NEW RELEASE The Toxic Museum - Berlin and Beyond https://www.routledge.com/The-Toxic-Museum-Berlin-and-Beyond/Tello/p/book/9781032526348 <https://www.routledge.com/The-Toxic-Museum-Berlin-and-Beyond/Tello/p/book/9781032526348> ISBN: 9781032526348, Routledge Francis & Taylor Group, 1st Edition, 2023. ------------------------------ Helene Tello Conservator in Private Practice Berlin Germany ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 11-24-2025 08:05 From: Emily Mullin Subject: Ventilation Holes in Archive Boxes Hi all! I have just started a new job as conservator at a county archive in the UK. All the archive boxes they are using here have 'ventilation holes' in them, please see images attached. I had never seen this before coming here and was told it was to stop a microclimate from forming. The holes in my option defeats many of the benefits boxes give in protecting the archival material within. My plan therefore going forward is to be ordering boxes without holes in them. I was wondering if anyone else had ever come across this as an archival practice before or can think of any positives? ------------------------------ Emily Mullin Book and Paper Conservation Student City & Guilds of London Art School London United Kingdom ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to https://community.culturalheritage.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e&GroupKey=757a8f16-505f-4323-8e74-e376757aa9f7.
