Published: September 02, 2008 08:15 pm            

Museum keeps track of a growing collection

For several months Ben Hammons, curator of collections at Layland Museum, has worked to sort and catalog the museum’s collection.

Cataloging artifacts has evolved from 3 x 5 cards, legal-pad lists and human memory to donor files in fire-proof cabinets and specialized computer software, said Julie Baker, Layland director.

“The greatest boon to our ongoing process of identifying past donations and keeping track of new ones was acquiring an experienced, full-time curator of collections,” Baker said. “It is the responsibility of Ben to know the collection, now 10 times its original size, its provenance, location and condition and to attach an identifying number to every item. Perhaps some questions from the early years can’t be fully resolved, but the effort continues.”

Care of the museum’s items during the early days was often less than ideal, Baker said, not through lack of interest, but because of lack of funding and staffing.

The Layland family loaned objects collected by their father, W.J. Layland, throughout his life to the city of Cleburne in 1963. Stipulations on the loan required that a museum be established, named after W.J. Layland, and that the items donated be maintained and cared for.

The collection included clocks, weapons, spinning wheels, seashells, bird eggs and organic materials such as hide, textiles and feathers, Baker said, much of which was in fragile condition from age and decades of handling before being donated.

The city first housed the donation in a barn west of Cleburne, where it was sorted, cleaned and some items discarded. The items were later moved to the second floor of the Carnegie Building, then home of Cleburne’s Public Library. Loans and donations from other institutions and individuals expanded the collection through the years. The collection now includes items from more than 500 donors, Baker said.

“This early period is one of great disappointment, but not uncommon in institutions without permanent and qualified staff,” Baker said. “Everything was exhibited to take up space and eventually there was more. So much that items lay on the carpet, leaned against the columns, hung from the walls. Unfortunately, housekeeping and security were hampered by the layout, and several items, including a firearm, went missing.”

The first known inventory of the collection, performed by an unknown group of people, didn’t occur until 1973, 10 years after the donation, Baker said.

Oversight of the museum moved from the Johnson County Historical Commission to the city of Cleburne, which hired Mildred Padon as the first curator. Padon secured the Carnegie Building for use as a museum after the library relocated, Baker said. She and several volunteers worked to repaint and carpet the building and move the collection downstairs.

Baker applauded Padon’s work and dedication.

“The early years were marked by limited funds, none for conservation, staff without museum experience, and artifact collections spotty in content,” Baker said. “The struggle for relevance among a busy population was led by Mrs. Padon and brought a high degree of respect for her efforts.”

Efforts continue to improve and catalog the collection, Baker said. The city updates insurance on the collection every few years, she said. Hammons is working to photograph, label and catalog the collection.

“This should be done every five years,” Hammons said. “But right now we’re just trying to catch up and get everything cataloged.”

Many of the items will be stored at the Lowell Smith Sr. History Center, a research center planned to be located in a building next to the Layland.

The collection, once properly cataloged and stored will greatly enhance the museum experience, Hammons said.

“We’ll be able to rotate and change out exhibits more easily,” Hammons said. “If we wanted to do an exhibit on hats, or clothing from a certain period, we’ll know where everything is an be able to pull it together faster.”

Some items are too fragile to be displayed, Hammons said. Others are too damaged to be displayed, he said.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.