Catalog Sheet

Once we accept an object into the museum's collection, we want to learn as much about it as possible. The first step is to fill out a Catalog Sheet. The object is measured, a picture of it is drawn and we try to estimate how old it is. These boots were probably made around 1895 which makes them over a hundred years old! We can guess the age by the style and color. Brown boots became more popular after 1890 and the toes of women's shoes also became increasingly pointy during this period.

To learn more about the history of shoes, click here.

Numbering

Next we assign a number to the pair of boots. This unique number will allow us to find the boots in storage. The number consists of three parts. The date the boots we accepted, a number assigned to the Sholem family (the people that gave us the boots), and a unique number for the boots themselves.

We apply this number with a non-fading pen on a base of something called B-72. The B-72 prevents the ink from soaking into the object and keeps the number from chipping or flaking off. Most importantly, the numbering process is reversible so the boots will not be damaged.

       Photography     

We then take photographs of the boots so we can quickly tell them apart from other boots in the collection. This photograph will be added to the catalog sheet and entered into the computer database.

       Computer Entry

With over 8,000 objects in our collection, we need a computer to keep track of them all! The information from the catalog sheet and the photograph are entered into the computer so we can find things faster. Computers sure make it easier to find things.

                Storage

Once the boots have been accessioned, they are packed for storage. We wrap the boots in acid-free paper and place them in acid-free boxes. They are then placed in a locked and alarmed storage facility and their location is entered into the database.

Click here or the image above to learn more handling artifacts.