The Conservation and Analysis of Artifacts from the Site of the USS Westfield

Summary

Through conservation and analysis, artifacts from USS Westfield’s collection contribute significantly to the cultural history of the American Civil War. The sinking of USS Westfield on January 1, 1863 in Galveston Bay, Texas, effectively ended the Union’s ability to dominate Texas’ coastal waters until the end of the war. The disarticulated remnants of Westfield left in Galveston Bay lay subject to almost 150 years of erosion, dredging efforts, and salvage until the US Army Corps of Engineers and PBS&J recovered the remains in 2009. The artifacts are currently undergoing conservation at the Texas A&M University Conservation Research Laboratory in Bryan-College Station, Texas. This presentation will review their conservation and information on the prioritization and management of the collection. An artifact analysis of the small finds of USS Westfield and a discussion of their contribution to the knowledge of American Civil War history will also be presented.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Southampton Dock: Vessels of Conflict and War   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2013

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 149