Description: Maintaining an appropriate environment is a fundamental aspect of preservation. Temperature, relative humidity, pests, and air quality can all have a significant impact on the lifespan of collections.Temperature and HumidityControlling temperature and relative humidity is crucial for archival collections. Inappropriate levels of either contribute significantly to the
Description: Because World War I was sure to go down in history, the curator of the History Division, Theodore T. Belote, began collecting artifacts documenting the war even before it was over. As the war wound down and soldiers started returning home, Belote and his superiors at the US National Museum worked with the War Department and contacts in the Army and the Navy to document the
Description: As World War II raged throughout the world, many feared the threat of another attack on American soil. Washington, D.C., and the National Mall were obvious targets for the Axis countries which put the Smithsonian buildings and collections located there in danger. In order to protect the Smithsonian’s collections, staff took action and moved many materials off of the National