Delta Flight Museum

Protecting a Brands History

Corporate history often reflects popular culture, and Delta is no exception: Flight attendants’ attire, on-board china, and other aspects of in-flight service reflect changing tastes and attitudes throughout the past century. “These collections are part of history,” said Associate Archivist Tina Seetoo. “I’m referring not only to the company’s history, but also to the history of Atlanta, and the history of Atlanta becoming a gateway to the world.”

Like many museums, most corporate museums are continually expanding their collections and a fraction of any collection is on public display at any given time. Collections storage was a challenge for the Delta Flight Museum, and the museum’s curator and preservation staff wanted to create a better solution to keep collections accessible and organized.

Planning for Growth

While the system was designed to protect the past, the collections area also has room to grow in the future. At her prior position at the Georgia Archives, Seetoo observed how that institution installed the in-floor rail system before additional carriages and storage furniture were needed or purchased. By planning ahead and installing the rails during construction or renovations, museums can be ready to accept new carriages as collections grow. Seetoo convinced her colleagues to pursue this strategy, and they added capacity with an additional carriage three years after the initial renovation.

By working with their Spacesaver representatives to carefully assess the collections area and the items to be stored, and by planning for growth, Seetoo and her colleagues have created a smart storage solution that will keep collections organized and accessible for decades to come. Seetoo offered this advice to others who might be undertaking a major collections area renovation: “Don’t plan for storing what you have. Plan for the future.”