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Learn about the ICPR Conservation Laboratory

Kon(t)se (r)vashen: 1) A deliberate, planned, or thoughtful preserving, guarding, or protecting: a keeping in a safe or entire state, 2) Care or keeping and supervision of something by a governmental authority or by a private association or business.

Both definitions equally apply to the activities of the Conservation Laboratory at the Indiana Commission on Public Records, a facility designed to preserve and protect the valuable and historical records created by Indiana's government. Housed and maintained by the Indiana State Archives, the Conservation Lab is an important Archives partner, helping it achieve its mission by restoring, repairing and/or encasing the physical item. In the last several years, however, the Lab has extended its expertise and knowledge to the state community whenever possible by offering limited conservation services to the public. The Indiana State Archives remains, nonetheless, its first and foremost customer.

Originally under the administration of the Indiana State Library, the Conservation Lab became a part of the Commission on Public Records in 1979. The lab was built in 1976 during the construction of an addition to the 1933 Library building. It was equipped using monies jointly contributed by the State and the Indiana Historical Society, and has been a facility since. The first paper conservator hired to treat library and archival materials, Gloria Scott, remained at the Conservation Lab until 1979. Following Ms. Scott's departure, the position of conservator laid vacant and was eventually lost to budget cuts. In 1989, steps to re-introduce the position of conservator to the staffing roster was successful. This accomplishment was propitious for the Indiana State Archives, enabling the resurgence of restoration activities to preserve many of Indiana's premier documents and establish long-term preservation plans for all of the Archive's valuable records.

The 1,200 square foot lab contains numerous basic, yet sophisticated pieces of equipment that allow the Conservation staff to perform its work. Among the features are a de-ionizing water system for water purification, a phase box maker for producing custom-sized storage containers, a high-powered microscope for detailed examination, a small high-powered vacuum for suctioning mold and dirt from materials, and fume hoods for working with toxic solvents and fumigants.

Upon visiting the Lab, one first enters the processing room, separate from the lab proper, which allows for the inspection and cleaning of dirty or pest-infested materials brought in from attics and basements around the state. It is here that materials are first examined and appropriate treatments determined. Materials are surface cleaned to remove the greatest portion of evident dirt, dust, mold, or feces utilizing spatulas, the suction vacuum, or a dry-cleaning pad.

Once surface grime is removed, a document can be brought into the Lab proper, which is kept as much of a "clean room" as possible. It is here that the detailed restoration work begins. Paper documents are tested for ink solubility so that they may be treated in one of two ways. A highly fragile document that is burnt (brown in color) or readily crumbles when handled is deacidified by spraying the document with a magnesium carbonate solution which neutralizes existing acids in the paper and leaves behind an alkaline buffer that can absorb surrounding acids. Easily handled documents in good condition are submerged in a bath of de-ionized water which removes grime imbedded into the paper fibers and neutralizes the existing acids. Both treatments require a drying phase and a pressing phase to return the document to its original, flat shape.

Tears in the document are repaired and folds in the paper (which break and weaken the paper fibers) are reinforced using Japanese repair tissues made from gampi, hemp, and mulberry plants. Lab staff mix their own stable pastes using rice or wheat starch. Once repaired, the document may be ready for return to the shelves, or may be encapsulated between thin layers of inert plastic. The document, held into place merely by static electricity and sealed on all four sides, is protected against further damage and can be freely handled.

These treatment steps are the foundation for any conservation lab. The extent of overall deterioration and damage; the type and quality of paper, photographic process, or volume binding; the age of the document; and the value of the item itself will influence the type and complexity of the treatment given. Documents of greater value will undergo more sophisticated treatments. Nevertheless, all of these basic steps were utilized to restore some of the fascinating and rare documents in the Indiana State Archives. Over the years, the Lab has handled such impressive documents as the battle plan for the Battle of Tippecanoe, the muster rolls of Indiana's Civil War volunteer regiments, and the original architectural drawings for the current State House.

Only restoration work requiring specialized treatments or tools, such as fine leather binding repairs, is contracted to outside specialists. As an example, the restoration of the 1816 State Constitution was performed by bookbinder James Canary of Bloomington, Indiana. Jim will also be restoring the 1851 State Constitution, which is printed on vellum and finely bound in a diced calf.

Other treatments offered by Lab staff include conservation lamination and backing (using repair tissue, heat-set tissue or spunbonded polyester to back or encapsulate a document), photograph and picture matting and framing, adhesive removal, fumigation and pest containment. In addition to treatments, Conservation staff members provide training and consultation to individuals and organizations on such topics as collection maintenance and conservation storage, disaster recovery and basic cleaning techniques.

 

A version of this article appeared in Archives Current, The Newsletter of the Friends of the Indiana State Archives., Inc., Vol. 2, No. 2, Winter 1997.

For additional information about conservation, lab facilities or services, please contact the State Archives at (317) 591-5222, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For further information on document conservation visit the Northeast Document Conservation Center.

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