This document provides guidance on, and outlines procedures for, museum record keeping, including accessioning, cataloging, loans, daccessioning, photography, and reporting annual collection management data.

Unlinked chapter names are not yet available online. All files are in PDF format.  Download the free Acrobat Reader here.

Chapters (file size):

• Introduction
• Ch. 1: NPS Museums and Collections
• Ch. 2: Scope of Museum Collections
• Ch. 3: Preservation: Getting Started (82K)
• Ch. 4: Museum Collections Environment (1.9MB)
• Ch. 5: Biological Infestations (88K)
• Ch. 6: Handling, Packing, and Shipping (4.7MB)
• Ch. 7: Museum Collection Storage (2.6MB)
• Ch. 8: Conservation Treatment (115K)
• Ch. 9: Security and Fire Protection
• Ch. 10a-b: Emergency Planning (173K)
• Ch. 10c-f: Emergency Planning (3.8MB)
• Ch. 11: Curatorial Health and Safety (466K)
• Ch. 12: Programming, Funding, and Staffing
• Ch. 13: Museum Housekeeping (117K)

Appendices (file size):

• A: Mandates and Standards for NPS Museum Collections (133K)
• B: Accreditation (32K)
• C: Professional Organizations and Societies (31K)
• D: Code of Ethics
• E: Scope of Collection Statement
• F: NPS Museum Collections Management Checklists (183K)
• G: Protection of NPS Museum Collections
• H: Curatorial Health and Safety (25K)
• I: Curatorial Care of Archeological Objects (200K)
• J: Curatorial Care of Paper Objects
• K: Curatorial Care of Textile Objects
• L: Curatorial Care of Easel Paintings (261K)
• M: Management of Cellulose Nitrate and Cellulose Ester Film (208K)
• N: Curatorial Care of Wooden Objects
• O: Curtorial Care of Metal Objects
• P: Curatorial Care of Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Objects (598K)
• Q: Curatorial Care of Natural History Collections (174K)
• R: Curatorial Care of Photographic Collections
• S: Curatorial Care of Objects Made from Leather and Skin Products
  
  

(Note: The content of the Web Edition is identical to that of the printed edition. However, there may be very slight differences in pagination and formatting.  Therefore, when citing, use chapter and section numbers).