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Aug 20 2008

Amanda’s Grandma’s Bible

Posted byNancy E. KraftPosted inBook & paper conservation, Community, outreach, education, and events

Wednesday, August 20, 2008


In June Amanda called about her Grandma’s Bible that had been found under the rubble after the May 25th EF5 tornado in Parkersburg. I advised her to wrap it in wax paper and stick it in the freezer until she could bring it down to us for examination and possible conservation work. Her Grandma was killed in the tornado, making this family Bible even more important to the family.

For a complete story on her you can read about it in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, June 5, 2008.
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/06/05/news/metro/10386819.txt

When Amanda brought the Bible to us, we stuck it in our freeze dryer to completely dry it out. Today, UI Libraries Conservator Gary Frost began working on the Bible. You can see from the photos that it’ll never be the same again. The Bible now has another story to tell — the story of the Parkersburg tornado.