Conserving Our Stories
We collect objects in order to find meaning in the vast materiality of our world. Photographs, documents, clothing and tools – these artefacts hold stories that define a people and a generation. The passage of time alters both our understanding of artefacts, and their material condition.
The Ottawa Museum Network (OMN) represents local museums charged with the stewardship of Ottawa’s stories. Each museum’s collection contains artefacts charting Ottawa’s growth from lumber town to modern capital city. Due to a lack of resources, many of these artefacts are at risk.
The OMN Conservation Project seeks to understand the diverse nature of our collections and how to ensure their integrity for future generations. The OMN managed the project using economies of scale to achieve greater impact. One conservator conducted assessments on collections and completed treatments on artefacts. Parks Canada partnered with the OMN, providing free use of a conservation lab. Lasting benefits include the conservation of key artefacts, and a collection assessment for use as a future planning resource.
Conservation of artefacts is a priority today as we seek to preserve the past in order to help shape and inform the society of tomorrow.
Conservation Treatment: Cumberland Heritage Village Museum
Conservation Treatment: Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum
Conservation Treatment: Goulbourn Museum
Conservation Treatment: Nepean Museum
Conservation Treatment: Vanier Museopark
Partnerships and Legacy
Conservation Treatment: Billings Estate National Historic Site
Billings Estate National Historic Site was the home of one of Ottawa’s founding families. Through hard work and entrepreneurialism, Braddish and Lamira turned forest into farmland and realized the creation of a community
“The Billings family were avid readers. Though it is not clear who owned each of the books, Charles Murray signed all of his, including this one which was signed in 1922.”
– Billings Estate National Historic Site
Book entitled, “Later American Poems” soft cover with industrial bookbinding
Before Treatment: The book’s spine was damaged by fire in 1992. The paper covers and first pages were burned, causing them to detach. Soot and dirt are present on the covers. Small tears and folds are also evident
After Treatment: Burned material from the book was fused together with adhesive and the book was cleaned. Folds and tears were mended and the cover was glued with bookbinding glue
Conservation Treatment: Bytown Museum
Located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, the Bytown Museum explores the stories of an evolving city and its residents from its first inhabitants and the early days as Bytown to present day Ottawa.
“The conservation of this ambrotype permits the museum to finally be able to include this beautiful photograph of a young Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) in an exhibition.”
– The Bytown Museum
Ambrotype Photograph entitled, “Prince Edward Albert, c. 1860” glass, collodion, silver particles, brass passe-partout and frame
Before Treatment: The ambrotype was in pieces and the original case lost. The glass was broken into three pieces. Small emulsion flakes had peeled from the edges
After Treatment: The glass surface and shards were cleaned and the glass shards were put back together. The glass plate was fixed, and a new glass plate was placed over the original for protection
Conservation Treatment: Cumberland Heritage Village Museum
Cumberland Heritage Village Museum consists of 29 buildings on 25 hectares in the village of Cumberland. The site features seven houses and six buildings depicting residential and agricultural architecture, as well as public buildings including a one-room schoolhouse, fire hall, Church, and community hall from the 1920s and 1930s era.
“The McRae letters (1814 to 1866) are written by James McRae, one of the early settlers of Cumberland Township. The personal letters to members of his family discuss the difficult conditions of making a living on the land and the isolation of the area.”
– Cumberland Heritage Village Museum
Letters, handwritten with iron gall ink on paper
Before Treatment: The letters were fragile and damaged by old repairs with adhesive tape. The old tape had yellowed and penetrated the paper fibres
After Treatment: Dirt was cleaned from the surface and old tape residue removed. Tears were mended with starch paste and a very thin Japanese paper
Before Treatment
Before Treatment
Before Treatment
Before Treatment
Conservation Treatment: Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum
Built to protect the government from nuclear attack, this once-secret bunker is now a museum and National Historic Site of Canada. This unique facility is a time warp to 1960s-era government rooms, living quarters and cryptographic areas.
“This photo album is one of the few artefacts our museum has from the time when the bunker was constructed. This photographic record shows that those involved with the building of the top secret Central Emergency Government Headquarters (a.k.a. The Diefenbunker) understood that this was a key moment in Canada’s Cold War history.”
– The Diefenbunker
Photograph Album, three-ring binder containing black and white silver gelatin prints and colour prints
Before Treatment: Several photographs were stained by adhesives and the plastic protectors around the colour photographs were damaged
After Treatment: The album was carefully documented, and then the photographs were cleaned. A polyester sheet was placed over each album page to look like an adhesive page. Residues were cleaned and the photographs were placed in a new binder
