The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) is a research and training office of the National Park Service. We are a research and education center dedicated to advancing the field of historic preservation through the use of science and technology.
Tech Services
NCPTT is located on the campus of Northwestern State University in Lee H. Nelson Hall. Our building was originally the Women’s Gymnasium for the Louisiana Normal College, it is the oldest building on NSU’s campus. We have three research labs in Nelson Hall and three in Fournet Hall. Our mission is to preserve cultural resources through the use of science and technology, and we work with a variety of partners, including government agencies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations, to develop and implement preservation technologies and techniques.
At NCPTT, we conduct research, develop and disseminate technical information, and provide training and education on preservation technologies and techniques. Our research and educational programs focus on a wide range of topics, including materials identification, characterization, and conservation for architectural conservation, archeology, and cultural landscapes. NCPTT also conducts a wide range of digital recording of buildings, artifacts, sites, and the stories of the people who made those places and objects significant.
Tech Services
Museum Poisons Test Kit
The purpose of this research is to expand the analytical tool kit for cultural heritage stewards to test for potential contamination or toxins in their collections. We are currently collecting data on the application of indirect testing—collecting samples from materials in contact with an object instead of the object itself—to identifying toxic metal and organic compounds.
We welcome your participation! Data from other collections and examining a broad range of contaminants will help us refine the instructions and application of these methods.
Below are pamphlets on how to take wipe samples or bulk samples for testing in your collections, an introduction about how to choose and speak with an analytical lab, and an example data collection spreadsheet. You can also find the link to submit data.
