J.CAC VOLUME 23 (1998)
The Acquisition, Management, and Conservation of Industrial Objects at Parks Canada
A description of the acquisition, management and conservation of industrial artifacts at national historic sites managed by Parks Canada is presented. Early on, many sites were acquired as a result of transfers from other federal government departments. A System Plan was put in place in 1981 to overcome the imbalance in themes within the system; at that time, a high priority was given to the acquisition and preservation of industrial sites. In 1994, Parks Canada published Parks Canada Guiding Principles and Operational Policies which includes the Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Policy. The policy describes a strong organizational ethic embodied in a set of principles. Methods of industrial conservation at Parks Canada which evolved over many years are now applied within the guidelines of the CRM Policy. Conservation has moved from traditional techniques involving stripping and repainting to methods involving much less intervention in the 1990s in an attempt to preserve as much original material as possible. A short history of this evolution is presented. Some Parks Canada industrial sites are described as examples of the diversity within the system and the evolution of industrial conservation methods, while other sites or objects are referred to in the context of specific conservation techniques. Various approaches to mechanical cleaning and coating are discussed. Health and safety issues in industrial conservation are also addressed, in particular, the hazard posed by lead dust on site.
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