ABSTRACT
In 2019 the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (MFIT) received an Institute of Museums and Library Services grant under the Museums for America/Collections Stewardship and Public Access programme. This funding enabled the museum to conduct a collection survey to detect the presence of hazardous materials that may have been used in the manufacture of fashion objects. The funding included the rental of a Bruker® Tracer™ 5i X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and the services of a specialist contaminated objects conservator. MFIT’s grant-funded object survey was a valuable tool in determining problematic materials in the museum’s collection. It enabled museum staff to gain a better understanding of toxicity issues in the collection and has effectively increased awareness of the need for safe handling practices. The study resulted in scientifically gathered information that served to inform revised object-handling protocols and storage procedures. This will ensure the safe management and accessibility of the collection to museum staff, students, and researchers, as well as secure the future of the objects.
