The Confederate flags, blood-stained shirts and tattered uniforms at the Atlanta History Center are still under attack by an army of sneaky and ferocious foes, but they’ve met their match in an 83-year-old retired professor of bug-ology at the University of Georgia.
Robert Evans, who taught entomology at UGA for many years and now lives in Atlanta, is one of the History Center’s most valuable volunteers, because he kills the tiny bugs called dermestid beetles that feed on textiles, feathers and just about any fabric.
It’s one thing to have a Civil War uniform or flag shot full of holes — which make such relics valuable. But it’s another when holes are drilled not by bullets, but bugs. Armed with a magnifying glass and a bottle of alcohol, Evans spends hours scouring the History Center for signs of the voracious insects.
The Atlanta History Center offers a virtual smorgasbord for the annoying critters. In addition to uniforms and flags, the Center has a huge textile collection, including quilts, rugs, table linens, shoes, hats, silk items, and bags and luggage, says Don Rooney, director of exhibitions.
So Evans puts out traps and looks for tell-tale signs of invasion — make that infestation — such as scattered tiny pieces of colored fabric, even insect eggs and larvae.
The bugs are given no quarter when found, meaning they’re not put outside only to risk re-entry.
A few years ago, Evans found that insects had attacked the felt pads of a 19th century piano, Rooney says.
“Wool and silk are the diet of some insects, and it could be a disaster for a uniform that has survived 150 years,” he says. “Other museums envy us because we have Dr. Evans who has the expertise to do this for us.”
Evans is modest about his heroic efforts, asserting he loves history and isn’t about to let bugs mess up any of the Center’s artifacts.
“My traps are spread out anywhere where there are military uniforms or other possible targets,” he says of the 22 traps he monitors weekly. “It’s a struggle, because the bugs can come in on guests’ clothes and shoes. We look near entrances. It’s a constant battle. But I enjoy it because I’m an entomologist and always wanted to be an archaeologist.”
Evans says he’s been volunteering for 15 years and has no plans to stop.
Which makes Rooney and Gordon Jones, senior military curator at the center, very happy.
“That man saves us thousands of dollars a year,” Jones says. “Without him we would be paying a professional do what this doctor of entomology does for us for free. If there is anything crawling around, we are going to see signs in the traps before they can get into a collection. Anything that looks grubby we are going to put in the freezer. … he’s our early warning system.”
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