The
documentation of cultural property is a critical aspect of
collections care. As stewards of
cultural property,
museums collect and preserve not only objects but the research and documentation connected to those objects, in order to more effectively care for them. Documenting
cultural heritage is a collaborative effort. Essentially,
registrars,
collection managers,
conservators, and
curators all contribute to the task of recording and preserving information regarding collections. There are two main types of documentation museums are responsible for: records generated in the registration process—accessions, loans, inventories, etc. and information regarding research on objects and their historical significance. Properly maintaining both types of documentation is vital to preserving cultural heritage.