Recently published by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is a new six-page Technical Leaflet (which appears in the most recent issue of History News, Summer 2019 edition) No. 287, "Care and Management of Vehicle Macro-Artifacts" including displayed historic locomotives and rolling stock based on best practices in the historic preservation field.

Issues can be obtained through this link: https://learn.aaslh.org/products/technical-leaflet-287-care-and-management-of-vehicle-macro-artifacts

Here is a summary of the contents:

"Macro-artifacts such as cars, airplanes, locomotives, and other large vehicles are often the stars of their collections, but have specific and numerous care needs that may intimidate museums and curators. Care and maintenance of macro-artifacts is both costly and constant if you want to keep them in good condition and available for public viewing. Macro-artifacts that are not well-maintained will suffer, and visitors will notice if these impressive items are left to deteriorate.

Care and Management of Vehicle Macro-Artifacts is an AASLH Technical Leaflet. AASLH Technical Leaflets are brief, practical guides on how to do history. Technical Leaflet #287, written by Marc Sammis and Kurt R. Bell, provides guidance and well-tested recommendations for the care of vehicle-type macro-artifacts in order to ensure the long-term preservation and interpretive value of these unique pieces.

Marc Sammis has been the Curator of the U.S. Army Transportation Museum in Fort Eustis, Virginia, since 2005, and previously worked at the U.S. Army Center of Military History and the National Museum of the United States Army. A member of the Company of Military Historians, Marc also hosted the 2018 AASLH Military Collections Camp workshop.

Kurt R. Bell is Railroad Archivist for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission at the Pennsylvania State Archives. A former staff member at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, he has worked on and operated historic steam locomotives and railcars across the country, and is the author of two books and over sixty articles on railroad history, technology, and preservation."