VOLUME 13

NO.12006

THE CONSERVATION LABORATORY

in the Weissman PreservationCenter (WPC), Harvard University,

provides a central location for the treat-ment of rare books, manuscripts, prints,drawings, maps and other special collec-tions within Harvard’s library system. The conservation lab is not physically associated with any library or collection.The separation between the lab and thelibraries usually requires that collectionstravel to the lab for treatment.

Transferring materials requires physicaleffort and transfer documentation to main-tain intellectual control of materials. Thetransfer process is a modest portion of item-level treatments requiring hours. However,the time required and effort is significantwhen multiple volumes for batched treat-ments are moved, particularly for simplerepairs. Moving large quantities of poten-tially fragile special collection materials isalso a concern.

Houghton Library, Harvard’s primaryrepository for rare books and manuscripts,

requires conservation work at all levelsfrom extensive single item treatments tominor mends. In July 2001, quick repairsessions were initiated at Houghton Libraryto address minor to moderately damagedbooks and manuscripts, plus avoid thetime and effort of transferring materials.

Quick-repair sessions generally takeplace one day per month and involve fromthree to five staff members. Some materialsand equipment are maintained on-site, butmost are carried to the library for each ses-sion. The sessions take place in a space

Archival Products

NEWSQuick Repairs: Taking Conservation to the Booksby Alan Puglia

Transferringmaterialsrequires physi-cal effort andtransfer docu-mentation tomaintain intel-lectual controlof materials.

A quick repair session: (L to R) Alan Puglia, Renee deVille,Beth Doyle.

generally used for making folders or exhi-bition cradles, which lacks a sink and is notsuitable for complex conservation work.

Treatment CandidatesTreatment candidates are selected from avariety of sources: the technical servicesdepartment during cataloging, public serv-ices department as materials are served topatrons and curators during their work. Agrowing segment of quick-repair candi-dates comes from collection surveys per-formed by the WPC to identify treatmentcandidates at all levels.

To date, the largest source of candidateshas been the book hospital, a selection ofdamaged materials set aside over the yearsawaiting treatment. The quick-repair ses-sions were largely initiated to address theleast damaged materials in the hospital. Asmall percentage of the whole, perhaps15%, will be fully treated during the ses-sions. A larger percentage will be stabilizedsuch that appropriate housing can deferfurther treatment, perhaps indefinitely.

Selection CriteriaThe selection process is critical to an effi-cient workflow and candidates must becarefully screened to avoid problems thatmight slow or halt work. Materials that donot fit the quick-repair context are betterdirected to a different workflow.

The most basic criterion for a quickrepair is an item that can be completed (orstabilized) in 45 minutes or less. Thisguideline allows simple mends throughmore complex structural repairs, includingsome board reattachments. Though thistime limit is somewhat arbitrary, itapproaches the point where transferring anitem to the lab might be justified, particu-larly if more specialized equipment andsupplies are needed. We have also foundthat books in need of many minor repairsare best transferred to the conservation lab.

Curators have been involved in theselection process through discussions oftypes and degrees of treatment for theircollections. Curators also differ in theirdirect involvement in the selection process.Some have provided blanket treatmentapproval based on discussions and reviewsof sample treatments, while others prefer to review individual items prior to anytreatment.

The selection criteria evolve in responseto our successes and failures. We do notstrictly eliminate any materials, but we arevery cautious about selecting materials suchas parchment bindings, publisher’s clothbindings, books with warped boards orpoor shoulder fits and delaminating leatherthat will not accept surface applied repairs.Some bypassed volumes are retained in thehospital for future review and treatmentwhile others are sent for boxing.

Our selection process has been most sig-nificantly improved by observing the mate-rials participants have refused to pick up.Candidates are placed on a cart and partic-ipants typically select the next few itemsfor their work. However, particular booksare sometimes mysteriously left behind orsurreptitiously returned un-repaired. Wehave consistently found that these undesir-able candidates, when treatment wasattempted, were very poor candidates forquick repair. This study in human naturehas helped improve the selection processand these problem items are generallyavoided.

TrainingThe WPC staff has varied levels of trainingand experience, but all are familiar withthe basic repairs common to the quickrepair sessions. Training, per se, has notbeen required but there is a learning curveassociated with translating familiar treat-ments into quick-repair sessions. Work performed off-site, under time constraints

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Catherine Badot-Costello repairing a head cap.

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and with limited equipment and suppliesare not routine. Also, some people do notadjust well to the quick-repair sessions.When possible, these issues should be con-sidered when selecting staff for quick-repairsessions.

Occasionally new staff, interns, etc. areinvolved and other staff are allowed to takea vacation from the sessions. When newparticipants are added, they are familiarizedwith issues particular to the sessions andsome of the altered techniques. The mostsignificant training is to involve new partic-ipants in selecting candidates from the hospital. The experience of treating selectedmaterials quickly clarifies the importanceof appropriate selection.

It needs to be noted that the quick-repair sessions have become learning andtraining experiences for our general work.Techniques refined for the sessions havetranslated well into our regular treatments.Further, the emphasis on quick, high-quality work suitable to special collectionsis an opportunity to build skills and experi-ence with a wide variety of materials.

Conservation StandardsQuick-repair treatments adhere to thecommon standards for conservation treat-ments. Reversibility is a significant concern,so paste is our most commonly used adhe-sive despite the drying time involved. PVA,which would suit many quick repairs instrength and drying speed, is only usedover barrier layers of paste and tissue.Lascaux 498HV, which remains reversiblein alcohols over time, is also used for somemends, particularly as an alcohol reactivat-ed tissue for leather repairs.

Treatment materials must also be stablein nature. Japanese tissues are selected fortheir strength and weight and toned asneeded. Some pre-toned tissues are used,such as the color kozo tissues from HiromiPaper. We have avoided using Moriki tis-

sues since they lack strength and their stability has been questioned.

Durability of the treatments is also aconcern since materials within HoughtonLibrary are actively used. We have hadopportunities to review past treatments andthere have been some failures; techniquesand materials have been altered or improvedas needed.

One final standard that we haveimposed is one of aesthetics. Our goal is tomake repairs unobtrusive and to avoid cov-ering tooling or other binding decorations.This is not unusual for special collectionmaterials, but custom toning and care foraesthetics is sometimes a challenge whendone under the time constraints imposedby quick repair.

Equipment and SuppliesThe tools, equipment and suppliesrequired for quick repairs are common to any conservation lab. Each participantassembles their own personal tools andshared items are gathered for the session.Transporting the supplies and equipment is not difficult, though some sessions havebeen cancelled during particularly poorweather.

The quick-repair sessions have requiredsome innovation in repair materials. A custom-toned, alcohol reactivated tissuewas developed for surface mends to leatherbindings. The alcohol reactivated tissuedoes not darken degraded leathers anddries within five minutes. This develop-ment was presented at the AmericanInstitute for Conservation conference in2002 and was published in the Book andPaper Group Annual.1

The RepairsThe treatment techniques common to thequick-repair sessions are typical to anylibrary collection, special or circulating andthe techniques are generally the same.

T A K I N G C O N S E R V A T I O N T O T H E B O O K S – c o n t i n u e d

Alan Puglia customtoning a repair.

A quick repair toolkit.

• Dry Cleaning.• Paper Repair and Hinge-Ins.• Corner Reinforcement: quick consoli-

dation is done, but we rarely coverexposed board.

• Leather Consolidation: consolidationis sometimes the only treatment, but itis usually part of a more extensivetreatment, such as board attachment.The “red-rot cocktail” mixture ofKlucel G, SC6000 and alcohol hasbecome our favorite consolidant.

• Inner Hinge Repair: these are oftenpart of a board attachment, but arealso used alone to stabilize boards.Custom toning is done with water-colors and the mends can be rapidlydried with hair driers.

• Simple Sewing: simple pamphlets aresometimes sewn into case-paper wrap-pers. Detached sections are sometimessewn to tissue hinges and reattached.Simple sewing reinforcements are alsopossible.

• Joint Repair/Board Attachment: booksup to 8", as long as the boards fit welland the book is not overly heavy, arecommon to the sessions. Custom ton-ing of leather repairs is usually donewith acrylics.

Quality ControlThe earliest quick repair sessions didinvolve a learning curve and some unex-pected problems were found. Items werealways checked at the end of the sessionand sent forward when completed proper-ly. Unfortunately, some problems do notbecome evident until a day or more haspassed. The most common are inner hingerepairs that open easily while the tissue andpaste remain slightly damp. When fullydry these mends occasionally becomeinflexible, or worse, block together as thebooks finished drying. Quality control isnow performed a day or two following asession.

Quality control plays an important partin fine tuning our selection process asproblem candidates are identified andtreatment techniques are adjusted as need-ed. Problems have decreased significantlysince the earliest sessions and problems arerarely passed forward to Technical Services.

Now and the FutureThe quick repair sessions for HoughtonLibrary have been taking place for four anda half years and have been a success.During that time there have been 44 ses-sions and a total of 1171 items have beentreated. Success is also measured in less tangible ways. The quick repair sessions arean enjoyable break from routine work andlessons learned have benefited the moretraditional, in-house work of the WPC.

At the time of this article the quickrepair sessions are being evaluated to deter-mine their continued form and frequency.Approximately 95% of the hospital hasbeen reviewed and the most suitable candi-dates have been addressed. We are cau-tiously re-examining our selection criteriato see what additional volumes might besuitable candidates for the quick repairmodel. The workflow from technical serv-ices provides sufficient candidates for lessfrequent sessions with fewer participants.However, patron use, book shifting proj-ects, retrospective cataloging work and sur-veys will keep the quick repair sessionsalive and well for some time to come.

NOTE1. Anderson, P, and A. Puglia. 2003. Solvent-Set BookRepair Tissue. Book and Paper Group Annual 22: 3-8.

Alan Puglia is Conservator for Houghton LibraryCollections in the Weissman Preservation Center atHarvard University. He can be contacted atalan_puglia@harvard.edu.

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T A K I N G C O N S E R V A T I O N T O T H E B O O K S – c o n t i n u e d

Completed treatmentswith documentationslips.

A completed boardreattachment.

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The maps wereoften so largethat they weretypically print-ed in two ormore sectionsand then past-ed together,backed withlinen for dura-bility andtacked top andbottom towooden dowelswith decorativefinials.

Big News: Saving an 1870 Wall Mapfrom Extinction

Introduction

MANY LIBRARIES AND SPECIAL

collections have encounteredchallenges when attempting

to manage the care and access of oversizedpaper documents such as maps, broadsides,blueprints and the like. It can be doublydifficult if these resources are in greatdemand and in poor condition.

A 50" x 58" wall map of PutnamCounty, Ohio in 1870 was uncovered dur-ing a house renovation in 2003. Its advancedstate of deterioration prompted its ownerto call the Center for Archival Collections(CAC) Conservation Lab at Bowling GreenState University (BGSU). In exchange fordonating the map to the CAC, the ownerhoped it could be repaired and a copy pro-duced. The map’s early date made it ofimmediate interest to researchers.

These 19th and early 20th century wallmaps, an informational gold mine fortoday’s researchers and genealogists, wereoften displayed in county courthouses andschools providing not only vital propertyinformation to local government but thelocation of churches, cemeteries and schoolbuildings. The maps also offered a lesson inlocal geology, geography and commerce. Itwas common to see included on these—around the outer edges—smaller maps oflocal villages and towns (many no longer inexistence) along with engravings of localpublic buildings and listings of area busi-nesses. The maps were often so large thatthey were typically printed in two or moresections and then pasted together, backedwith linen for durability and tacked topand bottom to wooden dowels with deco-rative finials. The various township bound-aries were often hand-colored in varioushues to differentiate them from one anoth-

er. The entire map surface was shellackedfor protection of the printed paper.

Time and heavy use certainly took a tollon most of these oversized maps. Eventuallyif the map was rolled and unrolled contin-uously rather than left open on the wall(producing its own brand of deterioration),the linen back would eventually loosen andthe paper develop weaknesses across itswidth. If the paper itself was made fromwood pulp it would have its own inherentinstability that would be further com-pounded by contact with a hostile environ-ment: direct light, temperature and mois-ture fluctuations and other indoor pollu-tants. The coating of shellac usually dark-ened, the linen backing loosened and asthe paste dried out the fragile paper wouldbegin to flake. With each flake, a propertylot number could be lost from the map.Due to the weight of the wooden dowel onthe bottom edge—often this portion ofthe map sustained the most damage.

Stabilizing these fragile maps can betedious for the most capable paper conser-vator and especially frustrating for the col-lection manager agonizing over how tokeep such documents intact and availableto the public without specialized resources.For most conservators, the first step for

A section of the original Putnam County map as it was beingprepared to be scanned on the bed of the Cruse scanner.

treatment is to remove the map from thedowels (often one or both of these hasalready become detached before the maparrives for an evaluation). Photos are takenof the map before and after treatment fordocumentation purposes.

During treatment, it is preferable tokeep these maps intact if at all possible. Ifthis cannot be done, with close scrutiny ofthe paper, one can identify where varioussections have been pasted together and sep-arate them as they had been when the mapwas first assembled. If the paper has notbegun to flake, the surface is gently cleanedby hand using various methods appropriateto the level of deterioration. After this, thesolubility of inks and color highlights isdetermined in anticipation of solvent andaqueous treatments to remove the shellacand pasted linen without harming poten-tially soluble elements.

Paper pH is also tested to determineacidity of the map. If the paper is stableand the paste holding the linen backing inplace is dried out, the linen can be carefullytorn away in narrow strips. If the inks andcolors will permit the paper’s exposure togentle solvents and water, then the shellacis removed and the paper washed (someprefer to reverse this order to prevent tidelines and the like from developing on thepaper). Washing removes impurities fromthe paper and helps soften and removepaste residue from the back of the map.

Some labs construct giant makeshift“sinks” of wooden framework lined withplastic that will accommodate treatment ofthe map intact. No matter if the map isintact or has been segmented due to paperfragility, then Hollytex or other spun poly-ester sheeting may be used under the mapto permit handling of the document whilewet. An aqueous deacidification can also becompleted at this time to neutralize theacid that has accumulated in the paper.One must always exercise great caution ifthe paper becomes fragmented after thebacking is removed. A suction table is agiant assist with backing removal and relin-ing (new backing) with starch paste andmending tissue. The gentle suction fromthe table holds the fragmented documentin place while treatments are completed.

Although our tattered, dusty, damaged1870 map was meticulously surfacecleaned and segmented into manageablesections in anticipation of further treat-ment, it became evident from its fragilebacking and flaking paper that the mapwould not be easily resurrected via tradi-tional hands-on conservation methods.The treatment focus therefore shiftedtowards reproducing the informationalcontent of the early map rather than risklosing the smallest detail during handling.The map could only be safely reproducedface up. Finding a large scanner with face-up scanning capabilities was the next hurdle.

B I G N E W S – c o n t i n u e d

For most con-servators, thefirst step fortreatment is toremove the mapfrom the dowels(often one orboth of these hasalready becomedetached beforethe map arrivesfor an evalua-tion).

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Example of a damaged photograph with three dimensionalproperties scanned with the Cruse scanner and repairedby the staff of the Large Format Lab.

Brent Cavanaugh scanning a large section of wood veneerfor a local company using the Cruse camera.

After an extensive investigation into areareprographic companies, we discovered, inour own back yard, BGSU’s Large FormatDigital Imaging Laboratory (LFDIL)—one of four “divisions” within the Collegeof Technology’s Center for AppliedTechnology, that is exclusively devoted totesting and evaluation of large format scan-ners and printers. LFDIL’s affiliation withthe Foundation for Latin AmericanAnthropological Research (FLAAR) offersthe lab’s students and users almost limitlessaccess to innovative scanning and ink jetprinting equipment as well as similar tech-nology as it is being developed and tested.

Among theinnovative equip-ment tested andreviewed for man-ufacturers, avail-able at LFDIL, is the CruseReprographicScanner capableof producing highresolution scans—face up—of doc-uments and arti-facts. The scanner

can accommodate artifacts up to approxi-mately seven inches in height with a maxi-mum depth of field focus of about threeinches. Maximum document dimensionsof 3' x 4' (a larger Cruse model, unavail-able at LFDIL, can scan artifacts up to 4' x8'). This high-end digital scanner is appar-ently one of over 20 such installations ofvarious models currently in use in the U.S.,according to information on the Cruse website. In addition, FLAAR at BGSU is oneof only two university institutes in the U.S.with both a Cruse scanner and aBetterLight digital camera—considered tobe the “premium capture devices for digi-tizing watercolors, pastels and oil paint-ings” according to Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth,

FLAAR, President and Director of theLarge Format Digital Imaging Division.1

The scanner efficiently reproduced the1870 Putnam County map. Each map seg-ment rested upon a rigid paper supportwhile being scanned at 300 dpi. The 200lb. capacity bed of the scanner is equippedwith gentle suction capabilities to keepdocuments from curling or moving whilethe light source passes over them duringscanning.

Recently a new Cruse scanner wasinstalled at LFDIL, with a stationary lightsource and moveable bed, thus creatingmore even illumination of the subjectbeing scanned. Although scanning throughglass is not recommended, the Cruse canaccommodate for this with the stationarylighting. Another advantage of this modelis that the lighting may be raised to pro-vide clearance for taller artifacts andframes. Since cold cathode florescent lightsare used during scanning and documentsare only briefly exposed, damage to originalmaterials is not a concern. Each map seg-ment was saved to CD in TIFF format.

LFDIL Technical Manager, BrentCavanaugh, remarked in a recent interviewthat speed and productivity are strongattributes of the Cruse with little set-uptime and only two to three minutes forscan time. The focusing of items is auto-matic. Effort need not be expended on

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Completed reproduction ofthe Putnam County mapwhile still on the ColorspanMach 12 large format inkjetprinter in the LFDIL lab.

Luke Elsasser, a COOP stu-dent with the lab, is loadingpaper into the HP Designjet5000 large format inkjet printer.

The Cruse ReprographicScanner.

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Image of an1888 map of Bowling Green, Ohio, captured bythe Cruse scanner.

insuring that scanned subjects be perpendi-cular to the camera because “fixed dedicat-ed alignment” is permanently built into thesystem. Balanced lighting is also no longera concern since it too has been designedinto the Cruse.2

Color accuracy of the printed copy withthe original was of major concern. Toensure satisfactory results, LFDIL employsICC Color Management InternationalStandard on scanners and printers. BrentCavanaugh commented that due to shortcomings on printers, it is necessary tomake adjustments on the file. The scan isaccurate but the adjustment needs to occuron the output side. While original docu-ments are still at LFDIL, we have a testprint produced of a segment of the docu-

ment to give us some indication of coloraccuracy between the print and the origi-nal. A lighting booth or color correct lightscan assist with this important part of thecolor matching process.

Before printing the final copy, the sepa-rate images of the map segments werereunited using Photoshop and then printedfull size on photo paper from a ColorspanMach 12 printer, capable of producingcopies up to 6' by 100' long using 11 inks.After successful completion of the scanningof the 1870 map, the original has beensleeved and placed into archival storage.Currently we are working with the LFDILto produce an 11" x 17" research bookletwhich will include a small version of theoriginal map and individual pages for eachof the townships as well as smaller commu-nity maps included around the border ofthe large map.

NOTE:1., 2. Hellmuth, Dr. Nicholas. December 2005. Input toAchieve Output in Fine Giclee Printing. Art World News,pp. 30-34.

For more information about LFDIL: http://bgsu.edu/colleges/technology/cat/lfl/about/index.html.

Frederick N. Honneffer is Document Conservator at theCenter for Archival Collections Conservation Lab atBowling Green State University. He can be contacted atfhonnef@bgnet.bgsu.edu.

LBS/Archival Products1801 Thompson Ave.P.O. Box 1413Des Moines, Iowa 50305-14131-800-526-5640515-262-3191Fax 888-220-2397custserv@archival.com

archival.com

After successfulcompletion ofthe scanning ofthe 1870 map,the original hasbeen sleevedand placed intoarchival storage.

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Stephanie Madeya, a graduate student, is measuring aninkjet print to check color accuracy.

Ashley Mascaritolo is preparing pages of the PutnamCounty map in booklet form for binding.