In September 1980, the National Park Service contracted with the University of Maryland to provide an analysis of the bronze metals of the six major equestrian statues at the Gettysburg National Military Park in order to provide a basis for recommending the most appropriate conservation treatment for these statues. At the time, it was expected that a bulk analysis of the bronze and the corrosion products, and an analysis of the interface between the corrosion products and the metal would provide sufficient information to formulate the specifications for the most appropriate and effective treatment of the objects.