Thursday, May 14, 2009 At long last we are seeing action on obtaining a new water system. Our proposal to replace our old system was first drawn up in September 2007. We finally had it accepted in the spring of 2008. Then the floods came. No more money. We could not keep our old systemContinue reading “Clean Water Coming UP!”
Category Archives: Materials, equipment and procedures
Suitcase Saga Part 2
Thursday, May 14, 2009 After I removed a majority of the mold I began to lift the paper lining where it was detaching. I did not attempt to remove the paper where it was still adhered because it is so brittle that it would just fall apart. For the areas I could not remove, I gentlyContinue reading “Suitcase Saga Part 2”
For the Record: First Box of Czech/Slovak Museums LPs Done!
Thursday, May 14, 2009 For months now we have been slugging away, dry cleaning the Czech Museum’s LP album covers, and we are just past the half-way point. As we get closer to the end, we are filling the area that currently houses the clean records and the clean covers. I thought it may beContinue reading “For the Record: First Box of Czech/Slovak Museums LPs Done!”
Beautiful Boxes Assembly Line Style
Thursday, May 14, 2009 In the lab, we refer to Linda as “the Machine.” As Caitlin and I have occasionally constructed a few blueboard clamshell boxes for items from the African American Museum, Linda has been spitting out cloth covered drop spine boxes. She primarily makes these types of enclosures for Hardin, the Art Library,Continue reading “Beautiful Boxes Assembly Line Style”
Suitcase Saga Part 1
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 This metal suitcase from the African American Museum collection was covered in rust and mold. It is also lined with brittle patterned paper. It’s a mess. I consulted with Gary to determine the best course of treatment. To begin, I used the Nilfisk Vacuum with pipette attachment to get the fuzziest mold, being very careful toContinue reading “Suitcase Saga Part 1”
Book Studies and Political Science Collide!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Alvaro Meneses, Bibliographer, and Professor of Political Science at the University of San Pablo, paid a visit to our ¨conservation lab¨with his class today. Gary and Joyce talked about different book structures. Chris Ryan gave a brief talk on early books printed at the Oldest University in Spain which is in Salamanca.Continue reading “Book Studies and Political Science Collide!”
Ojos Halcones Take Peru by Storm
Monday , April 20, 2009 For a week and a half, Gary, Joyce, and I have been working in Arequipa, Peru at the Recoleta Monastery. We have been stabilizing and protecting damaged books. Many of these books have been damaged in earthquakes. They are in suprisingly good condition considering how old they are and what theyContinue reading “Ojos Halcones Take Peru by Storm”
Cleaning the Rust
Thursday, March 19, 2009 The pictured objects were actively corroding after the flood. To slow that process we put the objects in sealed containers with silica gel packets. The dessicant pulls in moisture so it doesn’t permeate the objects. Now we are trying to clean up the effects of the corrosion and stabilize the metalContinue reading “Cleaning the Rust”
Sewing a Booklet Back Together
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 Some of the records we cleaned were accompanied by pamphlets like the one pictured here. They were mostly coated paper with rusting staples. The pamphlet pictured was held together with rusting staples and the middle folio had pulled almost completely free. I removed the staples. Dry cleaned the pages and guardedContinue reading “Sewing a Booklet Back Together”
Cleaning Moldy Books and Magazines
Thursday, March 5, 2009 Over the past few days, I have received several inquiries on how to deal with mold on books or magazines. Here are some tips. The items need to be dry before working on them. Set them out somewhere away from people (I use my garage), to let the items dry. IfContinue reading “Cleaning Moldy Books and Magazines”