Material Histories
A Coated Surface Is Not the Same Thing as the Whole Object
Describe an object’s surface without letting a coating stand in for its full material composition, using catalogue wording and separate observation notes.
A closer look at material history
Explore the object files
Archive Trails
The Newspaper Search Missed It: What OCR Can Leave Out
Historical newspaper searches depend partly on machine-readable text. Check the scanned page before treating a missing keyword as a missing story.
Collection Notes
A Sewing-Machine Patent Model Is a Specific Piece of Evidence
Use Elias Howe’s 1846 patent model to distinguish a documented invention record from a general story about every sewing machine that followed.
Material Histories
Bakelite’s History Begins with a Material Problem
Read Bakelite’s development through the problem it addressed, then separate the history of a material from the identification of an individual object.
Material Histories
Rayon and Nylon: Two Names That Should Not Share One History
Separate rayon from nylon when reading textile history, then use a small comparison card to keep material descriptions and manufacturing claims clear.
Archive Trails
A Finding Aid Is a Map of an Archive, Not a Folder You Have Read
Use a finding aid to plan archival research, distinguish collection descriptions from inspected documents, and record the references needed for a focused enquiry.
Collection Notes
Condition Notes Without a Restoration Story
Describe visible wear in an object record without guessing its cause or attempting restoration. Keep location, uncertainty and photographic context clear.
Material Histories
Describe What You See Before Naming the Material
A glossy or wood-like surface does not settle an object’s material. Learn to separate visible description, catalogue identification and unanswered questions.