Irreplaceable naval artifacts moved to Richmond.

[major bill]

The NHHC has moved tons of priceless naval artifacts moved to Richmond. A summery follows.

WASHINGTON – The curators of the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) completed the transfer of artifacts previously warehoused at its facility on the Washington Navy Yard NHHC officials announced Dec. 16. The artifacts are now at their new home in Richmond, Va.

It's part of an ongoing project transferring more than 300,000 artifacts, part of its headquarters collection, some dating back to the founding of the Republic, from warehouses at three different locations to their new collection management facility (CMF) in Richmond, Va.

Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/150527...cation-and-outreach#.VJy8t_8AMR#ixzz3MxpQZO7F

 

[Copperhead-mi]

You can view pictures here of some of the artifacts being transferred.

 

[hrobalabama]

Will these artifacts be available for public view ?

 

[major bill]

Hrobalabama, I hope so but the article did not say.

 

[AndyHall]

2011-10-1 Flag, Personal, Admiral Franklin Buchanan, After Conservation
Accession 2011-10-1

Flag, Personal, Admiral Buchanan
35"W x 60"L

The flag an Admiral's personal flag was recently processed in a project to catalog backlog items in the Curator Branch collection.This flag belonged to Admiral Franklin Buchanan. He was appointed an Admiral in August 1862 and commanded Confederate forces at Mobile Bay Alabama.

The flag was in a very poor condition, fragile and dirty. The flag was sent to a conservator because of its historical significance. This photograph was taken after the conservation work was completed.

__________________

The Naval History & Heritage Command had some limited museum exhibit space at the Washington Navy Yard, but it was out-of-the-way for visitors to D.C., and further complicated by being located on a high-security military installation. It took a dedicated museum-goer to get there when I did it years back, and I suppose it's significantly more not-easy since 9/11. I don't know if this move will do anything much for public access to the collection, but it does sound like a smart move from a curatorial/collections management perspective, getting them all under one roof in a dedicated facility.

 

[major bill]

I need to go to the Washington Navy Yard some time. I would like to see their Confederate Austrian made 6-pounder gun (Austrian, Field, 3.74-Inch, Rifle , Bronze). I understand the Confederacy only imported 17 of these Austrian 6-pounder guns. I will be in Richmond this spring and understand there is a Confederate Austrian 6-pounder gun at Petersburg.

 

[AndyHall]

I need to go to the Washington Navy Yard some time. I would like to see their Confederate Austrian made 6-pounder gun (Austrian, Field, 3.74-Inch, Rifle , Bronze). I understand the Confederacy only imported 17 of these Austrian 6-pounder guns. I will be in Richmond this spring and understand there is a Confederate Austrian 6-pounder gun at Petersburg.

http://www.history.navy.mil/cannons/cannons2.html

 

[Patrick H]

The title of this thread makes me unsure whether this is considered a good move or a controversial one. The article says this will provide for better care of the artifacts in a centralized location. Of course, the downside of centralization is that the artifacts would ALL be at risk in a disaster like a fire, tornado, etc. Do our members consider this a good or a bad move? I'm pretty ignorant about it and would really like to know.

 

[ole]

Would seem that there is now a better chance for the public to view at least some of them.

 

[Jamieva]

Seems from the article that they wanted to have the collection in 1 way instead of 2 or 3 for simplicity of managing it. It will not be displayed in Richmond but they will still loan out artifacts.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Yeah, this sounds like it's a move to a better/newer facility for conservation and storage-- it doesn't sound like the Richmond Civil War connection was the primary impetus. Still, I'm all for better conservation.

 

[rebelatsea]

I wonder if some of the missing Confederate ironclad plans and models are among this collection.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I'd hope so... but unfortunately I think we're into 'Holy Grail' territory there.

I will be interested to see what Donald L. Canney comes up with in his forthcoming book on the Confederate Navy. (I've been able to think of very little else since Andy mentioned it in a post!)

 

[AndyHall]

My early professional and educational background is in museum work (although I haven't been employed in that field for a long, long time), and I currently serve on a local museum advisory committee that deals a lot with collection management issues and policy, so that's my bias.

This seems like a good move to me on the whole. Consolidating the collection in one location makes things much easier for conservation, security, climate control -- all the things that go on behind the scenes that the public mostly doesn't see. The article doesn't say so directly, but my read of the fact that the collection is divided among three different locations now suggests that it sorta "growed like topsy," without a comprehensive management plan and (very possibly) located in facilities that were not optimized for their care and preservation. That is, I presume, something that will be corrected in the new facility.

The devil is in the details, as always, and there may be problems about this arrangement that I'm unaware of. But generally, it seems like a good move for the long-term curation and preservation of the collection.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Is the Naval History and Heritage Command a private organization?

 

[AndyHall]

No, part of the Navy. They are headquartered at the Navy Yard in Washington.

http://www.history.navy.mil/

They have lots of different branches, including museums, underwater archaeology, and the operational records branch (deck logs).

 

[rebelatsea]

I'd hope so... but unfortunately I think we're into 'Holy Grail' territory there.

I will be interested to see what Donald L. Canney comes up with in his forthcoming book on the Confederate Navy. (I've been able to think of very little else since Andy mentioned it in a post!)

I've pre ordered my copy Mark, but I shall still keep working in my ironclads manuscript.

 

[vikingbear]

Hi guys,

You never really know what could turn up. In this past year alone (one from Europe and one from Egypt) two ancient ship models were "rediscovered". The one in Egypt was first discovered years ago and had been on display somewhere labeled as a Egypt ship. It was rediscovered by some professer who was examing the collection. Knowing that it was no typical Egyptian ship he studied it and relised it was a model of a "people of the Sea" ship! The first ever discvered! To understand how important this is, this is a model of one of the style of ships used in the first known sea battle in history. So old that these People of the Sea are talked about in the Bible.

The second model was in storage somewhere in Germany. Some one finally studied this model and relised that it was one of a very rare ancient row warship called a hemiolia (means 1 1/2 in greek) . the name is refering to the oar system. Again a one of a kind.

So you never know what might pop up. Being human, things get misplaced, mis labled or lost in plain site............but, like above.........sometimes they can be rediscovered.

GRIZZ

 

[rebelatsea]

Fingers, legs and everything crossed ! What wasn't built is often far more interesting than what was, as unbuilt ships often have an influence on those that were/