Currently at the Memorial & Museum
Preserving History...
Museum Artifacts Tell a Story
February 14, 2011
The dresses worn on April 19, 1995, by two women who survived the bombing are exhibited in the Memorial Museum. Florence Rogers’ dress is intact. What remains of Nancy Ingram’s dress fits in a small plastic bag. These artifacts and others displayed in the Memorial Museum are vital to telling the story of the bombing.
The Archives staff is responsible for the care and preservation of all artifacts in the Memorial’s extensive collections, when they are stored in Archives as well as when they are on exhibition in the Museum, and acts in accordance with the standards of preservation accepted by the American Association of Museums, through which the Memorial Museum is accredited. Sensitive materials which are vulnerable to the effects of light must be rotated on a regular basis to ensure their long term preservation. Both natural and artificial light are very damaging to textile artifacts. Light damage, which is cumulative and irreversible, can
- Weaken and embrittle the fibers that make up fabric
- Cause cloth to split or tear on seams or where buttons or decorative elements are attached
- Cause the dyes used in fabric to fade or change color
As part of the Memorial Museum’s five year conservation and exhibits plan to ensure the long term preservation of sensitive artifacts and documents on exhibit, a schedule is in place to systematically rotate textile artifacts that have been on display with other artifacts from the collection.
Visit the Memorial Museum and experience the story of One City, One Nation, One Resolve.
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