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Helen Alten

Helen Alten

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

 

Collections & General Surveys
Archaeological Excavations
Storage Construction
Museum & Lab Construction
Object Treatments
Lectures / Workshops
Long Range Planning
Emergency Planning & Response
Condition Photography
Staff Training
Environmental Monitoring

 
 

EXPERIENCE

Executive Director
(Jan 2014 – present)
Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center, Haines, AK   
Conservator & CEO
(1997 – present)
Northern States Conservation Center, St. Paul, MN
Field Education Director
(1994 – 1997)
Upper Midwest Conservation Association, Minneapolis, MN
State Conservator
(1989 – 1994)
Alaska State Museums, Juneau, AK 99801
Conservator
(1993 – 1994)
Alaska Conservation Center, Juneau, AK 99801
Conservator
(1986 – 1989)
Montana Historical Society, Helena, MT
Conservator
(1986 – 1989)
Alten Conservation Laboratory, Helena, MT
Archaeological Conservator
(seasonal, 1982-1993)
Wet and dry sites in Alaska, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Israel and England
Conservation Internships: Saffron Walden Museum, Saffron Walden, U.K (1985)
York Archaeological Trust, York, U.K (1984)
Nemea Valley Archaeological Project , Greece (seasonal, 1984-1985)
University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (1981-1983)
Schussler & Lowinger and Tamsen Fuller, Philadelphia, PA (1982-1983)
The Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, IL (1981)
AWARDS Founders Award, Missouri Valley Historical Society, 1999.
Award for Excellence in the Museum Profession for Conservation Services, Museums Alaska, 1993.
Professional Associate, American Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property, 1991.
Gordon Childe and Margary Bequest Funds, Institute of Archaeology, Spring 1986.
HONORS Chairperson 2009-2010, Program Chair, Objects Specialty Group, AIC, 2008 to 2009
Chairperson, Conservators in Private Practice, 1999 to 2000
Vice Chairperson, Conservators in Private Practice, 1998 to 1999
AIC Delegate & Liaison to American Association of Museums Registrar’s Committee, 1998
Member, AIC-AAM Joint Committee on Collections Numbering, 1995-present
Panelist, National Endowment for the Humanities, 1993
Field Reviewer, Institute of Museum Services – Conservation Project Grants, 1990, 1992.
Field Reviewer, National Endowment of the Humanities, 1992.
Field Reviewer, Journal of the International Institute for Conservation – Canadian Group, 1992
Field Reviewer, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 1989, 1990, 1996.
Reviewer, Alaska State Museum’s Grants-In-Aid, 1989 to 1994.
GRANTS National Endowment for the Humanities, Preservation and Access Program, $360,000
Institute of Museum Services – Professional Service Program, $27,000 and $28,000
EDUCATION Archaeological Conservation and Materials Science, Institute of Archaeology, University of London, 1986. (U.S. Master’s degree equivalent)
Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology major, chemistry minor, Bryn Mawr College, 1982.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • Over 100 presentations on conservation and collection care topics including disaster recovery, gut repairs, cleaning, care of textiles, care of leather, conservation of waterlogged glass, and ABC’s of collection care.
  • Pioneered use of video-teleconferencing technology for collection care training in South Dakota.
  • Published 50 articles on conservation and collection care topics. Articles on Cleaning, Care of Leather and Care of Basketry have been reprinted in regional museum newsletters.
  • Created the A.R.K.: A Recovery Kit, a new approach to organizing disaster response in small museums.
  • Launched two newsletters: Collections Caretaker and The Upper Midwest Collections Care Network.
  • Published the premiere collections care Internet site: www.collectioncare.org. About 1300 unique users and 2500 repeat visitors view the site each month.

SURVEYS / ASSESSMENTS

  • Over 40 CAP and NEH preservation assessments for small museums and historical societies (list available).
  • Four IMLS-CP General Conservation Assessments and four general assessments funded internally for larger institutions such as state historical societies and living history museums (list available).
  • Eight specific object surveys, covering modern sculpture, Totem poles, transportation equipment, airplanes, textiles, furniture, ethnographic, historic and prehistoric objects, nearly 6,500 artifacts.
  • Over 30 SOS! Sculpture assessments in Alaska and Minnesota, SOS! Coordinator in Alaska.
  • Assessment of storage conditions for doll collection, Illinois State Museum.
  • Environmental analysis combined with specific object condition assessment of 500 objects in a living history museum setting to determine the extent of damage provided by minimal environmental controls.

TREATMENTS

  • 16 years as chief Objects Conservator for Northern States Conservation Center. Recent work includes an Egyptian faience Shawabti, Louise Nevelson sculpture, silk civil war flag, painted wood furniture, a 1917 electric stove, an 1880 wood and metal train model, a modern copper alloy sculpture, two zebra hides, an outdoor limestone Civil War monument, an outdoor ceramic fountain, two medieval vellum manuscripts, a kidskin and porcelain head doll ca. 1900, numerous pottery and glass items, feather headdresses, costumes, flat textiles and various historical objects.
  • Five years treating ethnographic materials for the Alaska State Museum, including gut parkas, Native tanned clothing, beadwork, rawhide, wool ceremonial blankets, baskets, ivory and bone and mixed media artifacts.
  • Three years treating historical and ethnographic pieces for the Montana Historical Society including Plains Indian clothing and artifacts, including bead and quillwork and horse trappings.
  • Led conservation teams for museum emergency response to four large floods, one roof collapse from snow, five museum fires, one large mold infestation, and two museum-wide pest infestations.

CONTINUING EDUCATION
An average of three continuing education courses, workshops or seminars per year since 1982. Included:

  • Tape Removal and Adhesives Up-Dates
  • Museum Environments and Agents of Deterioration
  • Pest Management
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Spot Testing for Materials Identification
  • Packing, Shipping and Exhibit Supports
  • Sculpture Surveying and Treatment
  • Conservation Surveys
  • Plastics Identification and Deterioration

SURVEYS/ASSESSMENTS

South St. Paul, MN, CAP Assessment for Dakota County Historical Society, 2001
St. Paul, MN, CAP Assessment for Macalester College Art Gallery, 2000
Marvin, SD, CAP Assessment for The Native American Cultural Research Center, 2000
Eagle, WI, Specific Object Assessment of about 200 Artifacts at Old World Wisconsin, 2000
Eugene, IA, CAP Assessment for National Balloon Musem, 1999
New Richmond, WI, CAP Assessment for New Richmond Preservation Society, 1999
DeSmet, SD, CAP Assessment for Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, 1999
Shakopee, MN, IMLS General Conservation Assessment for Murphy’s Landing, 1999
Minneapolis, MN, CAP Assessment for Hennepin County Historical Museum, 1999
Mahomet, IL, CAP Assessment for the Early American Museum, 1999
Morton, MN, CAP Assessment for Renville County Historical Society, 1999
Deadwood, SD, CAP Assessment for Deadwood Historic Preservation, 1998
Deadwood, SD, CAP Assessment for the Adams Museum, 1998
Clinton, MO, CAP Assessment for the Henry County Historical Society, 1998
Madison, WI, IMLS General Conservation Assessment for the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Museum, 1998
Madison, WI, CAP Assessment for the Geology Museum, 1998
Anoka, MN, CAP Assessment for the Anoka County Historical Society, 1998
Sioux City, IA, CAP Assessment for the Sioux City Public Museum, 1998
Pipestone, MN, SOS! Sculpture assessment for the Pipestone Historical Society, 1998
Mt. Pleasant, IA, CAP Assessment for the Theater Museum, 1997
Springfield, IL, Assessment of storage conditions for doll collection, Illinois State Museum, 1997
Corydon, IA, CAP Assessment for the Prairie Trails Museum, 1997
Mitchell, SD, CAP Assessment for the Enchanted World Doll Museum, 1997
Shakopee, MN, CAP Assessment for the Scott County Historical Society, 1997
Salem, IL, CAP Assessment for the William Jennings Bryan Birthplace Museum, 1996
Red Wing, MN, CAP Assessment for the Goodhue County Historical Society, 1996
Buffalo, MN, CAP Assessment for the Wright County Historical Society, 1996
Grand Rapids, MN, CAP Assessment for the Itasca County Historical Society, 1996
Chicago, IL, CAP Assessment for the Chicago Athenaeum, 1996
Decorah, IA, IMS General Survey for the Vesterheim Museum, 1995
Kotzebue, AK, CAP Assessment for the NANA Museum of the Arctic, 1994
Skagway, AK, CAP Assessment for the Trail of ’98 Museum, 1993
Juneau, AK, CAP Assessment for the Juneau-Douglas Museum, 1992
Coeur d’Alene, ID, CAP Assessment for the Museum of North Idaho, 1992
Kasaan, AK, Specific Object Survey of Outdoor Totem Poles, September 1992
Anchorage, AK, Specific Object Survey of the Anchorage Airport Artwork, 1990
Ketchikan, AK, Specific Object Survey of Totem Poles in the Totem Heritage Center. General Survey of the Totem Heritage Center and Ketchikan Museum facilities. January 1993, September 1992, October 1991, September 1989
Palmer, AK. Specific Object Survey of Transportation Artifacts at the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry. General Survey of both of the Museum’s sites. September 1991, August 1989
Helena, MT, IMS Specific Object Surveys for the Montana Historical Society. Surveyed 5,000 textiles, ethnographic, historic, and prehistoric artifacts. IMS-CP and IMS-GOS grants, 1986-1989

CONTINUING EDUCATION

 

   
2000 American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA
Preservation of Electronic Media, meeting theme
Plastics and Damage, AIC post-conference workshop
Plastics Identification, AIC pre-conference workshop
1999 Adhesives for Textiles and Leather, Canadian Conservation Institute, Ottawa, ONT, Canada
Integrated Pest Management Workshop, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO, Costs of Conservation meeting theme, Perceptions of Preservation Workshop
1998 American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Arlington, VA, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Association of Living History Farms and Museums, Annual Meeting, Waterloo, ONT, Canada
Spot-Testing for Materials Characterization, Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies, Mt. Carroll, IL
Environmental Guidelines Workshop, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN
1997 Western Association for Art Conservators (Rock Art emphasis), Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ
Museum Exhibit Lighting, AIC pre-conference workshop, San Diego, CA
American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA
AAM Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA
Mini-MBA, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, MN
Emergency Preparedness Workshop, The Upper Midwest Conservation Association, Madison, WI
1996 Removal of Pressure Sensitive Tapes & Tape Stains, Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies, Mt. Carroll, IL
Developing Strategies for Mounting, AIC post-conference workshop, Norfolk, VA
Preservation of Collections: Assessment, Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies, AIC pre-conference workshop, Norfolk, VA
American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Norfolk, VA
AAM Annual Meeting, Minneapolis
1995 Introduction to the Internet, MTN, Minneapolis
Midwest Museums Conference Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH
Keepers of the Treasures Annual Meeting, Sioux Falls, SD
Conservation of Stone, AIC post-conference workshop, Minneapolis
Conservation of Gilded Metals, AIC pre-conference workshop, Minneapolis
American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Minneapolis
1994 Totem Pole and Outdoor Wood Sculpture Conservation, Al Levitan and Ron Sheets, Sitka, AK
Soft Packing, RC-AAM pre-session, Seattle, WA
AAM annual meeting, Seattle, WA
Identification of 20th Century Polymeric Materials, The Campbell Center, Mt. Carroll, IL
Museums Alaska Annual Meeting, Kodiak, AK
Alaska Anthropological Association annual meeting, Juneau, AK
1993 American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Denver, CO
Totem Pole Colloquium, National Park Service, Sitka.
Microchemical Analysis for Conservators, The Campbell Center, Mt. Carroll, IL
Museums Alaska Annual Meeting, Anchorage, AK
Alaska Anthropological Association, Fairbanks, AK
1992 Business and Management, Art, and Carpentry courses, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK.
Argus Collections Management Software, System Upgrade Training
Care of Outdoor Sculpture, AIC pre-conference seminar, Buffalo, NY
American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Buffalo, NY
International Institute for Conservation – Canadian Group Annual Meeting, Ottawa, Ontario.
Paint cross-sections and surface analysis of icons, individual instruction from Dale Kronkright,Juneau, AK
Museums Alaska Annual Meeting
1991 Argus Collections Management Software, Introductory Training
Basketry fiber analysis, group instruction with Mary Lou Florian, Sitka, AK
Museums Alaska Annual Meeting, Haines, AK
1990 American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Richmond, VA
Conservation Information Network Introductory Training Course, Richmond, VA
The Conservators Role in Traveling Exhibitions, AIC pre-conference seminar, Richmond, VA
Museums Alaska Annual Meeting, Anchorage, AK
Western Association for Art Conservators, Annual Meeting, Catalina, CA
1989 Conservation Assessments, AIC pre-conference seminar, Cincinnati, OH
Teaching Preventive Conservation to Non-Conservators, IIC-CG pre-conference seminar, St. John’s, Newfoundland
International Institute for Conservation – Canadian Group Annual Meeting, St. Johns, Newfoundland
American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH
Museums Alaska Annual Meeting
1988 Conservation Surveys, AIC pre-conference workshop, New Orleans, LA
American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA
Materials Research Society Annual Meeting, Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology, Reno, NV
1987 International Institute for Conservation – Canadian Group, Victoria, BC
American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC
1985-83 UKIC annual meetings, London, included meeting on packing and traveling artwork
1982 American Archaeological Association annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Presenter, American Institute for Conservation, Conservators in Private Practice Session, 1999, 2000
Editor and Writer, Collections Caretaker, 1997 to present
Editor and Writer, The Upper Midwest Collections Care Network, 1994 to 1997
American Institute for Conservation, 1980 to present
Materials Research Society, 1988 to present
Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, 2005 to present
Campbell Center for Historic Preservation: Instructor, up to five courses per year for 15 years
Regional Reporter, Archaeological Conservation Newsletter, 1989 to 1994
Coordinator, Archaeological and Ethnographic Objects Discussion Group, American Institute for Conservation, 1993
Presenter, American Institute for Conservation , Mass Treatment of Waterlogged Glass, 1990;
Presenter, International Institute for Conservation-Canadian Group, One State/One Conservator, 1989; A New Approach to Gut Repairs, 1992
Presenter, Materials Research Society, Changes in Waterlogged Medieval Window Glass, 1988
Presenter, Western Association for Art Conservators, Developing a Maintenance Plan for Wood Outdoor Sculpture, 1997; Shifting the Conservation Paradigm: Field Education Programs, 1997; The Alaska Conservation Program, 1990

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

1990 to 1994 Conservation Advisor, Montana Creek Excavation, Juneau, AK.
Preservation of an eight-foot-long, five-foot diameter wood fish trap determined by carbon 14 dating to be approximately 700 years old. Treatment involved soaking in polyethylene glycol solution for one year, construction of special support structure to secure trap during drying. Special problem areas included spruce root lashings and loss areas, requiring special consolidation and support before drying.

1991, 1992 Conservator, Stanford University’s Panakton Excavations, Pyli, Greece.
Responsible for preservation of material from Byzantine, Classical, Bronze Age, and Neolithic levels. Material included glass vessels, coins, a variety of ceramic forms, and painted wall plaster.

1986 Conservator, Nicopolis ad Istrum Anglo-Bulgarian Archaeological Project, Nikiup, Bulgaria.
Responsible for preservation of material from part of a Roman fort near the Danube River. Worked in conjunction with Bulgarian archaeologists and conservators on preservation and long-term storage of the material. Artifacts included a silver coin hoard, a variety of ceramic forms, a gold and pearl earring, and numerous iron objects.

1991, 1984, 1985 Conservator (1991) and Conservation Intern (1984-1985), Nemea Valley Archaeological Project, Archaia Nemea, Greece.
Responsible for preservation of material excavated from Bronze Age and Neolithic levels as well as a variety of material collected on a survey of the Nemea Valley. Material ranged from Mycenaean ceramics, bone and copper alloy to a World War II shell. Excavated material was uniformly covered in lime deposits from the alkaline soil.

1984 Conservator, Morgantina Excavations, Sicily, Italy.
Responsible for preservation of material excavated and left in situ at this large Greek city in central Sicily. Treatments included removing graffiti from standing architectural stones, cleaning stamped amphora handles, and cleaning bronze coins.

1984 Conservation Intern, York Archaeological Trust, York, UK.
Assisted conservators on preservation of waterlogged material from sites in the area of York. Included treating large Viking-Era timbers in polyethylene glycol wax tanks, drying and re-shaping leather footwear, stabilizing medieval window glass, and cleaning a variety of metal objects.

1982 Conservation Assistant, Tel Gerisa Excavations, Ramat Gan, Israel.
Assisted conservator on material excavated from all levels of the excavation. Primarily assisted with pottery cleaning and reconstruction.