A Legacy at Work: Collections Care Specialists at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Abstract

Curators and conservators have long been entrusted with collections care, although their training and strengths have traditionally prepared them for work in other areas. To reach higher preventive care goals while providing greater collections access, specific staff committed solely to the development, administration, performance, and advocacy for regular collections care is now necessary. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) is one of the first large institutions to extensively apply professional collections care staffing in promoting preventive conservation throughout the museum. This paper will examine the MFA program's roots, funding, and collections care specialist training and activities. Future plans for this program and the potential of this staffing segment for the conservation field will also be addressed.