PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Museum Collection

In June 1979, Herr and Scheier picked up a United Order chair from a resident of Kanab, presumably donated. It was quickly dubbed "Adeline's Throne," after Seasonal Park Aid Adeline Johnson, who supervised the CETA girls working as interpreters in the fort.

In 1980 the storage trailer was still in use. In June 1980, two heavy steel shelving units were purchased for storing larger museum items. In July the monument acquired five new storage cabinets to use for museum storage. This helped to reduce conditions of overcrowding. Diana Pardue and Doris Fanelli, staff from the Division of Museum Services, Harpers Ferry Center, gathered data in March 1980 for a Collection Preservation Guide for the monument. Completed in July 1980, the monument received the report in the early fall. The report identified the monument's need for a better storage facility and better storage methods, as well as identified the need for a furnishing plan. Concern about environmental factors in the historic buildings (unmonitored humidity and temperatures, unsafe light levels) was expressed by the authors, as well as for security of collections displayed in the east and west cabins, where visitors browsed unattended by staff. Rodents remained a big problem in the buildings. The report recommended that fire alarm and mechanical intrusion systems be installed in all buildings and that certain practices be put into effect to enhance day-time security. [2374] As Herr did not agree with some aspects of the plan, it is unknown how many of the report's recommendations were put into effect.

During 1981, Fred Banks attended a curatorial methods class at Yellowstone National Park, learning new skills applied to his care of the monument's collection. He continued to attend other collection management-related trainings about every other year until 1989. Two replica pieces of fort furnishings were made for display purposes by maintenance staff that year, a dry sink and a cutting board. The accessioned originals were kept in storage. In late 1982, the monument acquired new kerosene lamps to replace the electric lights then in use in the fort. During 1983, Regional Curator Ed Jahns visited the monument to assist Banks address collection issues.

In January 1986, Banks picked up two wagons from Golden Spike National Historic Site which were surplus to their needs. From time to time, Banks also made small purchases of artifacts for the fort's displays.

As mentioned under the earlier "Planning and Development" section, the monument's maintenance building was rebuilt in 1987. Doubled in size, it included within it a proper collection storage room. During that year, Regional Curator Al Bohnert visited the monument to look over the collection and go over curatorial problems with Banks. In December Bohnert called to tell Herr there was $7,000 available for the monument to hire a seasonal museum curator. In late March 1988, Zula Brinkerhoff was hired for the position.