Conservation Science Research
Integral to all disciplines of Cultural Heritage Conservation is Conservation Science. The research scientist working within the Batten Conservation Complex’s laboratories utilizes various scientific and analytic techniques to determine what materials make up the objects in the Museum’s Collection. Characterizing the materials present helps us preserve these objects and improves our historical understanding by providing insight into how they were made and used and how they have deteriorated over time. Researching current treatment methods, adapting methods to suit the needs of individual objects, and creating new techniques for treatment and stabilization are all pivotal to conservation. Scientific analyses have been conducted on many objects in the Collection, from analyzing a pocket knife to characterizing medicines from a historic medical chest. The Mariners’ research scientist also works on the Museum’s Living Collection, monitoring the health of Mariners’ Lake.
- Air Compressor
IngersollRand/2340 - Analytical Balance
Ohaus/Pioneer - Autoclave
Harvey/Sterilemax
Donated by VA DHR - Band Saw
Rockwell - Bridge Crane
- Calibration Electrode
IonX/Low Maintenance LM-5 - Camera
Nikon/D90 - Camera
Canon/EOS 5D - Camera
Infrared Nikon/D70 - Carbon Coater
Cressington/180C
Funded by IMLS Grant - Carbon Dioxide Data Logger
Onset HOBO MX1102A - Colorimeter & Visible Light Spectrophotometer
Konica Minolta/Spectrophotometer CM700 Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Conductivity Meter
- Copy Stand
Custom Design & Build
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Data Aquisition System Honeywell/Multitrend GR Graphic Recorder Funded by IMLS Grant
- Dishwasher-Glassware/Laboratory Lancer/Ultima 815Lx
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Dry Ice Blasting Unit
ColdJet/SDI Select 60
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Electrolytical Reduction
Monitoring System
Honeywell
Funded by IMLS Grant - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy – ATR and Reflectance Mode Attachements Bruker/Alpha
Funded by MARAD Grant & The Bronze Door Society - Freeze Dryer
VirTis General Purpose 24DX48N4 - Fume Trunks
Enviroflex/Snorkvac - Fume Trunks
Nederman/BenchTop Extraction ArmFX2 100 CHEM - Fumehoods
Kewaunee/Venturi - Fumehoods
Kewaunee/Supreme Air
- Gas Meters
MSA/Altair 4x - Gold Sputter Coater
Luxor
Funded by IMLS Grant - Handheld Environment Monitor
ELSEC Model 765 - In-line pH Probes
Aquametrix/Standard 575 - Ion Chromatography with Autosampler
Thermo Scientific Dionex/Aquion
with AS-AP autosampler
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Light Microscopy
Zeiss/Axioscope 5 PLM, UV-Fluorescence
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Mat Cutter
Gunnar/AiOX Professional
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Ovens
Binder GmbH/FD-S - pH Meter
Thermo Scientific OrionStar/A211 - Quarantine Freezer
Thermo King/Magnum +
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Reverse Osmosis Water and Deionized Water System
Siemens/RO Water System - Sample Grinder & Polisher
Buehler/Ecomet 30
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Scanning Electron Microscopy – Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy
NanoScience/Phenom XL
Funded by IMLS Grant - Stereomicroscopes
Meiji/EMZ - Ultrasonic Cleaners – Scaler
Parkell Turbosensor Scaler - Ultrasonic Bath
- Ultrasonic Welder
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - UV/Vis Spectrophotometer
Thermo Scientific/Genesys 50
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Wireless Triaxial Vibration Monitor
Sigicom C22 - X-radiography
Yxlon/YSmart - X-radiography Scanner
Durr NDT/HD-CR 35
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Bruker/Tracer 5, Bruker/Tracer III-IV*
Funded by The Bronze Door Society - Structured Light Scanner
Artec Leo 3D Scanner
Funded by The Bronze Door Society
- Altland, C., Sangouard, E., and McGath, M.K. 2023.
Comparative Testing of Alkaline Products for Treatment of Acidified Marine Wood. WOAM 2023, pp.173-183. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/5902/Comparative-testing-of-alkaline-products-for-treatment-of-acidified-marine-wood - Bruhin, S., Hildbrand, E., Sangouard E., and Schramm J. 2017. Protection of organic remains in alkaline iron desalination. In ICOM-CC 18thTriennial Conference Preprints, Copenhagen, 4–8 September 2017, ed. J. Bridgland, art. 0801. Paris: International Council of Museums., 26-37. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/1580/Protection-of-organic-remains-in-alkaline-iron-desalination
- Farrell, E. 2023. A Light at the End of the Tunnel: Using an Improvised Laser Measuring System to Verify the Bore Dimensions of an XI-Inch Dahlgren Shell Gun. JAIC 62(2): 101-110. https://doi.org/10.1080/01971360.2022.2105380
- Farrell, E. 2022. At the Core of the Problem: A bespoke method used to clean the bores of USS Monitor’s XI-Inch Dahlgren Shell Guns. JAIC 62(1): 13-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/01971360.2022.2031458
- Farrell, E. 2021. Consolidation in Treatment: Using Cyclododecane to Maintain a Waterlogged Brush During Cleaning. WOAM Newsletter 61: 9-10.
- Farrell, E. 2020. A review of selected drilling methods used to de-concrete cast iron, smoothbore, marine archaeological artillery. JAIC 43(2): 142-161. DOI: 10.1080/19455224.2020.1753795
- Farrell, E., Hoffman, W., Kidd, I., McGath, M.K., Reed, B.W., Sangouard, E., and Sylcott, B. Forthcoming. Designing an affordable potentiostat for large-scale desalination through an engineering education partnership. In Proceeding of the Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Metal Working Group, Cardiff, Sept. 2025.
- Farrell, E., McGath, M.K., and Echerd, J. 2022. Testing the Compressive Strength and Reversibility of Consolidants Applied to Marine Archaeological Gray Cast Iron. In Metals 2022: Preprints of the 10th Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Metals Working Group, Helsinki, Finland, September 5-9 2022, eds. P. Mardikian et al., 114-122. Paris: International Council of Museums – Committee for Conservation (ICOM–CC) and The National Museum of Finland. ISBN 9782491997618. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/5085/Testing-the-Compressive-Strength-and-Reversibility-of-Consolidants-Applied-to-Marine-Archaeological-Gray-Cast-Iron
- Fleming, H., Haines, L., McGath, M., and King, L. 2021. Civil War Rubber: Historic Gaskets from USS Monitor. Maritime Archaeological and Historical Society 32(1): 12-14.
- Fleming, H., and Haines, L. 2019. Survey Says…: Using Archaeological Lenses and Conservation Assessment Tools to Influence Curation. In ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2019, eds. D. Ball and C. Horrell, 89-96. An Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology Publication. https://www.academia.edu/41703572/An_Advisory_Council_on_Underwater_Archaeology_Publication
- Gomez-Pretel, W.; E. Farrell. 2024. The Introduction of American Naval Ordnance in the Carribean Sea in the Late Modern Period: Operational Dimensions and American Expansion. The Mariners’ Mirror 110(3): 282-299. https://doi.org/10.1080/00253359.2024.2371198
- Grieve, S. 2009. Leather shoes form the Civil War: the excavation, conservation, and interpretation of footwear from the USS Monitor Including case studies. In Proceedings of the 10th ICOM-CC Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherland, 2007, eds. K.Straetkver and H. Huisman, 723-740. Paris: International Council of Museums – Committee for Conservation (ICOM–CC) and Amersfoort : Rijksdienst voor Archeologie, Cultuurlandschap en Monumenten.
- Grieve, S. 2008. The excavation, conservaiton, storage, and display of rubber artifacts recovered form the USS Montior (1862). JAIC 47(2008): 141-151. https://www.academia.edu/1964460/THE_EXCAVATION_CONSERVATION_STORAGE_AND_DISPLAY_OF_RUBBER_ARTIFACTS_RECOVERED_FROM_THE_USS_MONITOR_1862_
- Grieve, S. 2006. Archaeological conservation of modern materials: a case study of waterlogged rubber gaskets from the USS Monitor (1862). JMAA 22: 79-90. https://www.academia.edu/1964458/Archaeological_Conservation_of_Modern_Materials_A_Case_Study_of_Waterlogged_Rubber_Gaskets_from_the_USS_Monitor_1862_
- Hoffman, W. Forthcoming. Going to pieces for conservation: experiences gained and lessons learned from ten years of disassembling USS Monitor composite artifacts. In Proceedings of the Object Specialty Group and Archaeological Heritage Network joint session, 50th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, California, May 29-June 2022. Washington DC: American Institute for Conservation.
- Hoffman, W. 2013. Bringing history to life: reproducing a Worthington steam pump for the USS Monitor. AIC OSG:169-194. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://resources.culturalheritage.org/osg-postprints/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2020/04/osg020-08.pdf
- Hoffman, W., E. Farrell, L. Haines, King L., M. K. McGath, and E. Sangouard. 2022. Building an Ironclad System: A Quarter-Century of Innovation in the Conservation of USS Monitor. In Metals 2022: Preprints of the 10th Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Metals Working Group, Helsinki, Finland, September 5-9 2022, eds. P. Mardikian et al., 281–289. Paris: International Council of Museums – Committee for Conservation (ICOM–CC) and The National Museum of Finland. ISBN 9782491997618. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/5080/Building-an-Ironclad-System–A-Quarter-Century-of-Innovation-in-the-Conservation-of-USS-Monitor
- Hoffman, W., and R. Spohn. 2021. Hot tub time machine: A heated water system for artifact disassembly and treatment. In Postprints of the Objects Specialty Group Session 46th Annual Meeting, Houston, 31 May – 2 June, 2018, eds. K. Dodson and M. Wilcop. Washington D.C.: American Institute for Conservation. ISSN 2169-1290.
- Hoffman, W., King, L. 2019. Equipment Identification and the Development of Dry-Ice Blasting Parameters for Cleaning Archaeological Wrought Iron, Copper Alloys, and Gray Cast Iron. In Metals 2019: Proceeding of the Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Metals Working Group, Neuchatel, Switzerland, September 2-6 2019, eds. C. Chemmello, L. Brambilla, and E. Joseph, 265-272. Paris: ICOM–CC and He-Arc CR. ISBN 9789290124573. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/3550/-Equipment-Identification-and-the-Development-of-Dry-Ice-Blasting-Parameters-for-Cleaning-Archaeological-Wrought-Iron-Copper-Alloys-and-Gray-Cast-Iron
- Hoffman, W., and Spohn, R. 2018. Hot Tub Time Machine: A Heated Water System For Artifact Disdassembly and Treatment. AIC OSG: 1-21.
- Kiple, K., Sangouard, E., and McGath, M.K. Forthcoming. Evaluating Sulfur Mobility for Extraction from Waterlogged Organic Objects. STAR.
Krop, D., and Nordgren, E. 2011. Disassembly of USS Monitor complex mechanical components. In Proceedings of the Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Metal Working Group, Charleston, 11-15 October 2010, eds. P. Mardikian, C. Chemello, C. Watters, and P. Hull, 70-78. Charleston: Clemson University. ISBN 978-0-9830399-0-7. - McGath, M.K., and Sangouard, E. 2023. Quantifying Iron in the Treatment Solutions of Waterlogged Organics Using EDTA. In Proceedings of the 15th ICOM-CC Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Working Group Interim Meeting, Mainz, 2023, eds. I. Hovmand, M. Felter, I. Stelzner, 166-172. ICOM-CC. ISBN 978-2-491997-63-2. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/5901/Quantifying-iron-in-the-treatment-solutions-of-waterlogged-organics-using-EDTA
- Nordgren, E. Goncalves, P., Schindelholz, E., Brossia, C.S., and Yunovich, M. 2007. Corrosion assessment and implementaiton of techniques to mitigate corrosion of large artefacts form the USS Monitor (1862). In Metal 07 : interim meeting of the ICOM-CC Metal WG Amsterdam, 17-21 September 2007, ed. C. Degrigny, 55-61. Paris: International Council of Museums – Committee for Conservation (ICOM–CC) and Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
- Sangouard, E. 2019. When Wood and Iron Are Inextricably Intertwined: The Treatment of a Gun Carriage from the USS Monitor. AIC News 44 (3). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378549472_When_Wood_and_Iron_are_Inextricably_Intertwined_The_Treatment_of_a_Gun_Carriage_from_the_USS_Monitor
- Sangouard, E., Gutshall, T., Haines, L., Haslam, O., King, L., and McGath, M.K. Forthcoming. Optimizing and Formalizing Conservation Processes of Large-Scale, Multi-Decade Projects. In Proceeding of the Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Metal Working Group, Cardiff, Sept. 2025.
- Sangouard, E., and Hoffman, W. 2019. Piecing Together History: Conservation of a Wool Coat from USS Monitor. In Proceedings of the 14th ICOM-CC Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Working Group Interim Meeting, Portsmouth, UK, 2019, ed. E. Williams, 143-152. ICOM-CC. ISBN 978-2-491997-32-8. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/4636/Piecing-Together-History–Conservation-of-a-Waterlogged-Wool-Coat-from-the-Civil-War
- Sangouard, E., Nordgren, E., Sphon, R., Brunke, K., and Krop, D. 2015. Evaluation of sodium nitrite as a corrosion inhibitor for USS Monitor artifacts. Studies in Conservation 60(4): 253-266. https://doi.org/10.1179/2047058414Y.0000000145
- Sangouard, E. and Grieve, S. 2010. Evaluating Treatments of Waterlogged Lignum Vitae Objects from the USS Monitor. In: Proceedings of the 11th ICOM Group on Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Conference, North Carolina, 2010, eds. K. Straetkvern and E. Williams. USA:ICOM Committee for Conservation.
- Sullivan, K., Spohn, R., and Sangouard, E. 2018. Investigating the use of sodium nitrite as a corrosion inhibitor in polyethylene glycol solutions. In Proceedings of the 13th ICOM-CC Wet Organic Archaeological Materials Working Group, Florence 2016, eds. E. Williams and E. Hocker, 262-270. Paris: International Council of Museums – Committee for Conservation (ICOM–CC). ISBN 978-2-491997-44-1. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/4837/Sodium-nitrite-as-a-corrosion-inhibitor-in-polyethylene-glycol-solutions-for-the-treatment-of-waterlogged-wooden-artifacts-with-ferrous-components-
- Duncan, E., L. Zachman., and M. K. McGath. 2024. Comparison of Colorimetric and Photographic Interpretation of A-D Strips®: L*a*b* to RGB. Poster presented at AIC’s 52st Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, May 20-24, 2024.
- Farrell, E. 2022. Creating Simulated Graphitized Archaeological Cast Iron Samples for Testing Conservation Treatments. Poster presented at AIC’s 50th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, May 13-18th 2022.
- Haines, L. 2023. Mysteries from the depths (of your collections): unlocking the full potential of archaeological artifacts. Poster presented at the ICOM-CC 20th Triennial Conference Preprints, Valencia,18–22 September 2023, ed. J. Bridgland. Paris: International Council of Museums. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/5719/Mysteries-from-the-depths-of-your-collections–Unlocking-the-full-potential-of-archaeological-artifacts-in-museums
- Haines, L., H. Fleming, L. King, and M. K. McGath. 2021. Research and Conservation of Waterlogged Rubber Gaskets from USS Monitor (1862). Poster presented at the Society of Historical Archaeology 2021 Virtual Conference: An Archaeological Decameron.
- Hoffman, W. 2015. Testing Dry-Ice Cleaning on Archaeological Wrought Iron from the USS Monitor. Poster presented at AIC’s 43rd Annual Meeting in Miami, FL May 13-16, 2015.
- Hoffman, W. 2018. On a Roll: A New Artifact Support Approach during the Treatment of Guns and Cannons. Poster presented at AIC’s 46th Annual Meeting, Houston, TX, May 29th – June 2nd 2018.
- Hoffman, W., and M. K. McGath. 2019. A Project with Potential: Evaluating a new monitoring system for artifacts undergoing electrochemical treatment. Poster presented at AIC’s 47th Annual Meeting in New England, May 13-17, 2019.
- Hoffman, W., and M. K. McGath. 2019. A Project with Potential: Evaluating a new monitoring system for artifacts undergoing electrochemical treatment. Poster presented at Metals 2019: Proceeding of the Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Metals Working Group, Neuchatel, Switzerland, September 2-6 2019, eds. C. Chemmello, L. Brambilla, and E. Joseph. Paris: ICOM–CC and He-Arc CR.
- King, L., and E. Farrell. 2022. Microclimates for Marine Archaeological Ion Artillery: Three Case Studies in Treatment, Storage, and Display. Metal 2022. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/5125/Microclimates-for-Marine-Archaeological-Iron-Artillery–Three-Case-Studies-in-Treatment-Storage-and-Display
- King, L., L. Haines, M. K. McGath, and H. Fleming. 2020. A Sticky Situation: Conservation of Historic Waterlogged Rubber. Poster presented at AIC’s 48th Virtual Annual Meeting, May-August 2020.
- King, L., and W. Hoffman. 2017. Guns and Ships: Using Dry Ice Blasting in the Conservation of Cast Iron. Poster presented at AIC’s 45th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, May 28th – June 2nd 2017.
- McGath, M.K., and E. Sangouard, E. 2023. Sustainability at every level. Poster presented at the ICOM-CC 20th Triennial Conference Preprints, Valencia,18–22 September 2023, ed. J. Bridgland. Paris: International Council of Museums. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/5720/Sustainability-at-every-level
- Recuero, R., and M. Givens. 2023. A ‘Collections-Based, Community-Focused’ Strategy. Poster presented at the American Alliance of Museums Conference, May 19-22nd 2023.
- Sangouard, E., and R. Spohn. 2019. Utilizing a heated rinse to facilitate the removal of sodium sesquicarbonate for large USS Monitor’s copper alloys after desalination. Poster presented at Metals 2019: Proceeding of the Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Metals Working Group, Neuchatel, Switzerland, September 2-6 2019, eds. C. Chemmello, L. Brambilla, and E. Joseph. Paris: ICOM–CC and He-Arc CR. ISBN 9789290124573.
- Sangouard, E., Hoffman, W., and K. M. Sullivan. 2017. The USS Monitor gun carriages: treatment steps and innovations for the conservation of complex composite artifacts. Poster presented at AIC’s 45th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, May 28th – June 2nd 2017.
- Sangoaurd, E., and K. M. Sullivan. 2017. Investigating the impact of sodium nitrite on wood. In ICOM-CC 18thTriennial Conference Preprints, Copenhagen, 4–8 September 2017, ed. J. Bridgland, art. 0801. Paris: International Council of Museums. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/1624/Investigating-the-impact-of-sodium-nitrite-on-wood
- Sangouard, E., E. Nordgren, R. Spohn, and K. Brunke. 2010. Evaluation of sodium nitrite as a corrosion inhibitor for USS Monitor artifacts. Poster presented at Metal 2010: Proceeding of the Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC Metals Working Group, Charleston, SC, USA October 11-15 2010, ed. P. Mardikian, C. Chemello, C. Watters, and P. Hull. Paris: ICOM–CC.
- Schmidt, P. L., and M. K. McGath. 2019. Infrared camera conversion: considerations and a case study. Poster presented at AIC’s 47th Annual Meeting in New England, May 13-17, 2019.
- Sullivan, K. M. 2015. Analyzing and retreating copper alloy artifacts from the USS Monitor. Poster presented at AIC’s 43rd Annual Meeting in Miami, FL May 13-16, 2015.
- Zachman, L., E. Duncan, and M. K. McGath. Improved Interpretation of A-D Strips® with Colorimetry & Visible Light Spectrophotometry. Poster presented at The American Institute for Conservation’s 51st Annual Meeting, Jacksonville, FL, May 16-20, 2023.
Contact
Conservation
[email protected]
(757) 596-2222