Dear Lauren, In our conservation database (Conservation Tracker) we do separate the "treatment" narrative from "materials", but we use materials to record the composition of the object and not necessarily the materials used in treatment. However the same idea applies -- my goal was to find a way to record materials as "terms" to make indexing and searching easier (especially if the materials field could be a drop-down list or multi-check combo box). Our conservators frequently want to search by material.
Here is a partial list of the fields we use for treatment report types. We also have examination, loan, technical analysis and survey report types which share many of the same fields as the treatment report but have additional, unique fields as well. Let me know if you want to discuss further, I'm always interested in others applications of conservation data! Thanks, Kate Kate Blanch Administrator, Museum Databases 410.547.9000 x.266 | [email protected] The Walters Art Museum 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-5185 thewalters.org Materials Terms: A listing of the materials that make up the object. List individual materials separated by semi-colons. e.g. sawdust; oil paint; canvas; leather; gold; ivory Marks/Inscriptions: Description of any marks, inscriptions, signatures, stamps, labels, etc. Materials Description: A narrative description of the materials that make up the object. Support Description: Description of structural integrity or basic support of object. May apply more completely to paintings. e.g. Wood Panel: grain vertical. Number of members one. Cut tangential. Other Supports none. Fabrication/Techniques Description: Description of the object as a whole, how it was made and what it is constructed of. Analysis results can be included here as well. e.g. Part of a shrine in silver, mounted in a frame made up of metal pieces from other sources, contemporary and later. Proposed Treatment: Appears on Examination record type. Description of the object's treatment needs. e.g. Frame needs consolidation, surface cleaning, retouching. Treatment: Appears on Treatment record type. Description of the treatment steps performed on an object. e.g. Surface dirt removed with vacuum; surface washed with tap water and dried. Notes/Abstract: Additional notes, info about related objects, related resources and other miscellaneous information can be stored here. e.g. The previous repairs were done before acquisition by Mr. Henry Walters as part of the Mansaretti purchase in 1902. e.g. Returned to galleries 4/30/2001. Total Time / Time Est: Describe the total proposed or actual project time. Based on the Proposed Treatment (for Examination records) or Treatment (for Treatment records) described. e.g. 10 hours Original Message From: Lauren Robinson Sent: Monday, 6 April 2015 20:38 To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Reply To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: [MCN-L] Conservation module in database Hello, We are looking at a proposal for the conservation module in our database. The proposal currently separates the following into four fields: Proposed Treatment, Proposed Materials, Treatment, and Treatment Materials. I'm wondering what other institutions follow the practice of separating treatment from treatment materials, and how they find it useful. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks! LAUREN ROBINSON CATALOGING COORDINATOR Museum of the City of New York 1220 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10029 TEL: 917.492.3373 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> NOW ON VIEW Everything Is Design: The Work of Paul Rand<http://www.mcny.org/exhibition/everything-design> Through July 19, 2015 Logos, books, ads & more by a master of American design _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://mcn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ ******************************
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