Preservation in Disaster Situations: a case study of the Valvilla Wool Mill Museum, Finland

Abstract

This article discusses the role of documentation and rescue planning in minimizing collection damages in disaster situations. The topic is surveyed through a case study of a fire that occurred in 2003 at the Valvilla Wool Mill museum in Hyvinkää, in Southern Finland. This incident caused significant damage to the authenticity and integrity of the museum’s archival collection. Both the fire and the extinguishing of the fire caused severe damage to items in the archival collection. Deterioration continued during aftercare, causing serious secondary collection damage because the methods of the first aid and aftercare were spontaneously planned and applied. By using the Valvilla Wool Mill museum’s incident as an illustrative case study, the article analyses how the documentation and rescue planning influenced collection damage and demonstrates the kinds of effects rescue work can have on the authenticity and integrity of cultural heritage items.