What is this?

In our description process for artifacts, curators refer to a book called “Nomenclature”. This was set out by previous museum professionals to make a system for describing and classifying objects for easier use across the museum field. It is similar to scientists classifying animals and plants. It isn't often as straight forward though. Different items can go by different names and a singular item name can have multiple uses. For example:

Button

Campaign Button

Button 

A button has many forms: a campaign button or a clothing button. One is advertising a statement and the other is used to keep clothing together.

Photograph
Photographs can be an art form but can also document an event like a birthday party.

Log

A log could be the piece of cut up tree we use to make buildings. Or it could be a record that a ship captain kept on his voyage.

All items are ordered under their wider use: structures, furnishings, personal artifacts, tools & equipment for materials, tools & equipment for science and technology, tools & equipment for communication, distribution & transportation artifacts, communication artifacts, recreational artifacts, and unclassifiable artifacts. Then within each there are smaller categories down to the actual item. Most are in a three part classification system.

          Communication Artifact – Documentary Artifact- Print, Photographic
          Communication Artifact – Art – Print, Photographic
          Personal Artifacts – Clothing—Accessory – Button
          Communication Artifact – Personal Symbol – Button, Campaign
          Communication Artifact – Documentary Artifact – Log, Ship’s
          Structures – Building Component - Log

Occasionally we receive items that we can’t identify. This is where visual dictionaries, the internet, and colleagues are extremely useful. We have a listserv that we can post a picture of our unidentifiable object and usually someone will know what it is. We like to think we know every single thing ever made, but sadly this is not the case.