Methodology for the conservation of large outdoor collections with disparate conditions

This paper outlines a method for the conservation of a large group of similar objects with disparate conditions, using a collection of memorial plaques located at the University of Texas Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium as a case study. These bronze plaques, installed in the stadium in 1926, currently exhibit widely varying conditions. The conservation method consists of seven steps: background research, survey of site, survey of objects, conditions report, testing, treatment, and maintenance. This method was applied to the memorial plaque collection, and a recommendation for the treatment of the collection is made, with an emphasis on environmentally safe treatment methods.