Open Forum

Hello,

I have a noob question, is there any way to properly handle old tobacco (100 yrs old)? I have a picture attached below. I'm going to transfer it to a different display case.

Thank you,
Aidan

------------------------------
Aidan Woodham
West Pasco Historical Society
New Port Richey FL
------------------------------

Hi, Aidan - 

Do you mean in terms of conservation/picking it up safely and moving it due to its fragility? I know it gets flaky when it's dried out - I'd gently scoot a piece of cardstock or something similarly thin and rigid underneath it and move it that way.

If you mean in terms of disposing of it in a ritual way, you can always get a shell and smudge with it outside the museum.

L

------------------------------
Leah Bowe
Collections Consultant - NAGPRA
Department of Heritage Preservation
Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul MN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-17-2017 11:09 AM
From: Aidan Woodham
Subject: Old Tobacco

Hello,

I have a noob question, is there any way to properly handle old tobacco (100 yrs old)? I have a picture attached below. I'm going to transfer it to a different display case.

Thank you,
Aidan

------------------------------
Aidan Woodham
West Pasco Historical Society
New Port Richey FL
------------------------------

Ms. Leah,

I did mean picking it up and moving it somewhere else. Thank you for the information!

Aidan

------------------------------
Aidan Woodham
West Pasco Historical Society
New Port Richey FL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-18-2017 10:02 AM
From: Leah Bowe
Subject: Old Tobacco

Hi, Aidan - 

Do you mean in terms of conservation/picking it up safely and moving it due to its fragility? I know it gets flaky when it's dried out - I'd gently scoot a piece of cardstock or something similarly thin and rigid underneath it and move it that way.

If you mean in terms of disposing of it in a ritual way, you can always get a shell and smudge with it outside the museum.

L

------------------------------
Leah Bowe
Collections Consultant - NAGPRA
Department of Heritage Preservation
Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul MN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-17-2017 11:09 AM
From: Aidan Woodham
Subject: Old Tobacco

Hello,

I have a noob question, is there any way to properly handle old tobacco (100 yrs old)? I have a picture attached below. I'm going to transfer it to a different display case.

Thank you,
Aidan

------------------------------
Aidan Woodham
West Pasco Historical Society
New Port Richey FL
------------------------------

I spoke with our state Cooperative Extension Service office head.  His suggestion is when you remove the tobacco from one case that you leave it as it was stacked in the exhibit - on a table.  Leave it on that table for at least a few hours so humidity can re-enter the leaves.  Then you can safely put them in the new exhibit.  Do not separate the leaves because they will immediately dry out and crumble.  Hope this helps.

------------------------------
Susan Wolfe
Executive Director
St. Mary's County Historical Society
Leonardtown MD
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-17-2017 11:09 AM
From: Aidan Woodham
Subject: Old Tobacco

Hello,

I have a noob question, is there any way to properly handle old tobacco (100 yrs old)? I have a picture attached below. I'm going to transfer it to a different display case.

Thank you,
Aidan

------------------------------
Aidan Woodham
West Pasco Historical Society
New Port Richey FL
------------------------------

Thank you for replying Ms. Susan, would this work even though the cases are not temperature controlled?

------------------------------
Aidan Woodham
West Pasco Historical Society
New Port Richey FL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-18-2017 03:22 PM
From: Susan Wolfe
Subject: Old Tobacco

I spoke with our state Cooperative Extension Service office head.  His suggestion is when you remove the tobacco from one case that you leave it as it was stacked in the exhibit - on a table.  Leave it on that table for at least a few hours so humidity can re-enter the leaves.  Then you can safely put them in the new exhibit.  Do not separate the leaves because they will immediately dry out and crumble.  Hope this helps.

------------------------------
Susan Wolfe
Executive Director
St. Mary's County Historical Society
Leonardtown MD
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-17-2017 11:09 AM
From: Aidan Woodham
Subject: Old Tobacco

Hello,

I have a noob question, is there any way to properly handle old tobacco (100 yrs old)? I have a picture attached below. I'm going to transfer it to a different display case.

Thank you,
Aidan

------------------------------
Aidan Woodham
West Pasco Historical Society
New Port Richey FL
------------------------------