Library of
Congress Information Bulletin
Conservation Corner
Grossman, Annlinn. "Document
Tells the Story of a Community" Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, September 2004.
The
New York State Certificate of Incorporation for Congregation Rodef
Scholem Independent Podhaizer Sick and Benevolent Association is a small
document
adherred many years ago to to a much larger wooden board. This document
was acquired by the Library in 2004 and required delicate and thoughtful
conservation
attention prior to its exhibition.
Eusman, Elmer. “The
Drawing That Became a Photograph”. Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, August 2004.
This Joseph Keppler politican cartoon depicts the editorial staff of
Puck magazine in its heyday, 1878. It was executed on four separate sheets
of
paper so the images could be manipulated into
one
final
image.
Additionally
one
sheet
had been
on
top
of a lightly developed photograph thereby presenting further complications
for the conservator.
Wanser, Heather. “The
Challenge of Caring for Asian Maps”. Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, December, 2003.
Many Asian maps are created as scrolls. There are also other traditional
formats: wall maps that are folded to smaller sizes; long folded maps (referred
to as accordion style); or atlases, which are bound in a manner that is
uniquely Asian. There are even a few maps that are formatted as fans. Each
requires its own conservation treatment regiment, not unlike that of its
original Asian artisan.
Wanser, Heather.
"Treatment
and Preparation Of Waldseemüller's Map". Library
of Congress Information Bulletin, September, 2003.
The only known copy of the first map to introduce the name "America" to
the world arrived bound in a 16th century German binding, or portfolio,
decorated with a tooled leather spine and wood covers. Prince Wolfegg,
the previous owner of the map, wished it to be removed from the portfolio
binding and assembled so that it could be displayed and viewed in its entirety.
Eusman, Elmer. “100
Fragments of the American West”. Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, June, 2003.
In 1851 the Jesuit missionary Pierre-Jean de Smet brokered a peace
treaty between the US and a number of Indian tribes at a general council
held at Fort Laramie. Because of his extensive knowledge of the Native
American tribes, the government asked him to create a comprehensive map
of the West, delineating the territories of the various tribes. The map
that he made measures 35 inches by 53 inches and is completely hand-drawn
in brown ink and watercolor. Seven conservators worked five days to remove
the cotton fabric lining and all residual paste from the fragile map.
Boone, Terry. “Preserving
Pith Paintings”. Library of Congress Information Bulletin,
May, 2003.
"Pith" is a spongy paper-like substance, which is soft, velvety and
translucent. The article refers to the efforts to conserve 29 delicate
Chinese paintings
hand-drawn or painted on pages of a journal, inserted between pages
or generously glued down, presenting a myraid of conservation challenges.
Albro, Sylvia. "The
Intern Class of 2001". Library of Congress Information Bulletin, November,
2001.
The academic backgrounds of five advanced conservation interns selected
from an national and international applicant pool for spots in the Conservation
Division intern program are outlined.
"Conservation
Clinic at National Book Festival". Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, October,
2001.
Conservators from the Library were on hand to evaluate items,
provide conservation advice, and demonstrate conservation techniques. Also,
displays of protective enclosures for books and photographs, and informational
pamphlet
freebies were available.
Morenus, Linda Stiber and Jesse Munn. "Breathing
New Life into Japanese Treasures". Library of Congress
Information Bulletin, September, 2001.
Virtually every member of the Conservation Division staff was involved
in the many steps required to restore a collection of Japanese woodblock
prints prior to exhibition.
Robb, Andrew. "Preserving
the Prokudin-Gorskii Collection." Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, May 2001.
Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii travelled throughout the Russian
Empire and produced a collection of more than 2,000 photographs. The
photographs are noteworthy not only for what they record but also as
one of the early examples of color photography.
Wanser, Heather. "Washinton's
First Inaugural Address." Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, February 2001.
The Conservation Division has recently treated one of the most important
documents in the Library's collections: George Washington's first inaugural
address.
Wanser, Heather. "Preserving
Lafayette's 1824 Maps." Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, April 2001.
When the Geography and Map Division acquired an atlas commemorating
the Marquis de Lafayette's 1824 visit to the United States, it gained
a document that presented particularly vexing problems to the Conservation
Division.
French, Yvonne. "Jefferson's
Books at Jefferson's Library." Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, April 2000.
Cartloads of books that originally belonged to Thomas Jefferson
are being treated efficiently in the Library's Conservation Lab to
prepare for the exhibition "Thomas Jefferson.".
Roosa, Mark. "New
Web Site Tells Preservation Story." Library of Congress
Information Bulletin, May 2000.
The Library's Preservation Directorate launched "Bach to BaseBall," a
Web publication that celebrates 200 years of preservation at the Library
of Congress.
French, Yvonne. "Preserving
Bob Hope's Memories." Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, June 2000.
The exhibition and digitization of ephemeral 20th century materials
in the Bob Hope collection are driving conservation treatments that
simultaneously preserve the collection and raise philosophical question
about treatment methodologies.
Roosa, Mark. "Historic
Photographs Made Available." Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, July 2000.
Some important but less well known images of Ansel Adams will soon
be available online, thanks to the work of the Conservation Division.
Roosa, Mark. "A
Sound Future for Recordings." Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, August--September 2000.
Study of preservation issues surrounding recorded sound collections
yields specifications for new storage materials.
Krueger, Holly Huston and Mark Roosa. "Preserving
Original Herblock." Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, October 2000.
Prior to exhibition, conservation staff prepared rare original drawings,
working to preserve the friable media Block used.
French, Yvonne. "Reminding the Future." Library of Congress Information Bulletin, December 2000. Assembling the Library's Bicentennial time capsule presented some preservation challenges, as the longevity of the artifacts to be placed within is unproven.
Roosa, Mark. "Mexican
1500s Choral Book Poses Questions" Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, December 1999.
The second edition of the 1576 Graduale Dominicale, a large choral
book, is posing questions to paper and book conservators as it undergoes
conservation treatment.
Roosa, Mark. "Preservation
on 'John Bull & Uncle Sam.'" Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, November 1999.
Select items from the Library's collection were reviewed prior to
the exhibition. This provided conservation staff with a unique opportunity
to treat some of our nation's top cultural artifacts.
Krueger, Holly Huston and Mark Roosa. "Rejuvenating
Political Cartoons." Library of Congress Information Bulletin, October
1999.
The Conservation Division's treatment of the Ben and Beatrice Goldstein
Collection of realist prints and drawings involved a wide range of
technical solutions including dry-cleaning surface dirt, mending tears
and removal of extraneous materials such as old hinges and tapes.
Roosa, Mark. "Washingtoniana
II Project Preserves Architectural Legacy." Library of Congress
Information Bulletin, September 1999.
In 1987 the Library began a project to conserve 40,000 important
drawings that document the history and development of architecture,
design and engineering in the nation's capital.
Roosa, Mark and Tom Albro. "George
Washington Diaries Reclaimed." Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, August 1999.
Describes the Library's state-of-the-art conservation lab's work
on an invaluable collection of 36 pocket-size diaries that belonged
to George Washington.
Roosa, Mark. "Piecing
Together Fragments of History." Library of Congress Information
Bulletin, July 1999.
Library of Congress conservators have confirmed for the first time
that the paper upon which Thomas Jefferson penned the composition fragment
and the "original Rough draught" of the Declaration of Independence
were made by the same paper manufacturer.
Roosa, Mark. "Naxi
Manuscripts Pose Preservation Challenges."
The Naxi manuscript collection contains 3,038 unique, precious and
vulnerable volumes. The unusual, long, horizontal format presented
special handling considerations. Because the manuscripts had suffered
damage throughout the centuries, conservation specialists devised a
two-pronged preventive maintenance approach.
Roosa, Mark. "Exhibiting
'Eames': Library Takes Special Care to Safeguard Collections."
Mounting an exhibition, such as "The Work of Charles and Ray Eames," requires
much more than selecting items and placing them on display. In addition
to the work of the Interpretive Programs Office, the Conservation Division
plays an important role in ensuring that the materials -- many of which
are rare and fragile -- are not harmed by their exposure.