STORING NEW MEXICAN SANTOS IN MUSEUMS
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Authors
Garza, Monica de la
Issue Date
2002
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The objectives of this project have been to gain a greater understanding of the history of Spanish Colonial folk art collecting in United States museums. I developed research questions for collections managers and registrars in the United States asking them if they had specific criteria and concerns when storing Spanish Colonial folk art. Specifically I set out to make an assessment of how registrars and collections managers in American museums were storing santos. The climate control systems set in place and storage materials such as shelving and materials used were of concern to me.
In assessing museum storage facilities I set out to find case studies for best practices in collections care of Spanish Colonial folk art objects. Based on these I drafted storage recommendations for collections managers and registrars who care for Spanish Colonial folk art.
To begin my surveys and interviews of museum collection caretakers I first needed to research the history of Spanish Colonial folk art and how it had been collected by museums. I read, several texts by art historians on the subject, and with this knowledge, phoned collections managers and registrars to discuss how they cared for santos in their collections. In surveys I asked them what types of santos they had in their collections. Then I probed them to find out exactly how they stored santos made of wood and tin. In order to return suggestions for santos storage back into the museum field, I will submit for publication, where I will use my survey results to write an article with recommendations for the care of Spanish Colonial folk art to collections managers, registrars, missions, churches, and collectors.