The american museum of natural history will improve the care and access of their collections of african and asian elephant skulls, and african bovid specimens

The American Museum of Natural History was awarded a $383,733 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Museums for America (MFA) program (CFDA 45.301). The grant will support improving the care and access of the museum's collections of African and Asian elephant skulls, as well as African bovid specimens. Key project activities include unifying the bovid specimens, cleaning and rehousing the elephant skulls, digitizing the collections, and moving the skulls to offsite storage. Two part-time conservation interns will provide support for critical cleaning, stabilization, and documentation tasks. This project will increase access for museum staff and researchers while reducing exposure to deterioration factors for the valuable specimens. The award period runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027.

Project activities will include unifying bovid specimens that are in offsite storage with the specimens in compact storage at the museum's new gilder center; as well as cleaning, rehousing, digitizing, and moving elephant skulls to offsite storage where post-crania are kept. Two part-time conservation interns will provide support to the museum team by carrying out critical cleaning, stabilization, and documentation tasks on the skulls. Museum staff and researchers will experience increased access to frequently used specimens, and the objects will benefit from reduced exposure to key agents of deterioration.