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.
A closer look at material history
Explore the object files
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.
Collection Notes
Provenance with Gaps: How to Write an Object History Honestly
Build an object timeline that distinguishes documented ownership, reported stories and unknown intervals, instead of filling gaps with a plausible narrative.
Archive Trails
An Old Advertisement Is Evidence of a Claim, Not Proof of Performance
Read a historical product advertisement by separating the claim, intended audience and supporting evidence, without treating sales language as a test result.