#conservaton

Circular Letter Number 177: Conservation of Paper. 10/14/1918

Series: Circular Letters, 1918 - 1919. Record Group 181: Records of Naval Districts and Shore Establishments, 1784 - 2000.

Submitted anonymously to our Citizen Archivist Takeover.

These parchment records are being treated for display in the Public Vaults exhibit at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.  Parchment reacts to even slight changes in relative humidity by expanding or contracting, and inks on its surface can be damaged by this flexing. Some of the iron gall ink used to write these documents was flaking and cracking. Conservators consolidated the iron gall ink using gelatin applied with a very small brush, to re-adhere the ink to the parchment.

Taking my son his morning coffee, I glanced out of his bedroom window and saw that we had a visitor. The distinctive long and bobbing gait made it easy to identify as a wagtail, but where its pied cousin is a common sight, the little grey wagtail is a rarity these days.

This one was hopping around the edge of the pond, on one of the small ledges left for the birds that like to take a bath in the…

TIME SENSITIVE

 GS-13 Conservator (Digitization) Vacancy at US National Archives

 The US National Archives is seeking a Digitization Conservator (GS-13) to serve as the technical expert in the preservation requirements for the digitization of its archival materials. The Digitization Conservator will coordinate National Archives digitization conservation activities, examine and treat National Archives collections, conduct training and make recommendations for digitization policies, guidance, programs and procedures.  The position will be based in College Park, MD. Salary range: $92,145 to $119,794 per year.

Automatic Document Feeders

Scanners and photocopiers with Automatic Document Feeders (or ADF) permit faster document imaging than the “one page at a time” approach of a flatbed scanner or glass platen would.   However, the reputation for documents being damaged in ADF equipment exists. So much that NARA and other cultural institutions are typically prohibit Archival documents from being scanned or copied in ADFs. This photo shows damage that can result when a document is jammed inside an ADF.

{picture one }This photo shows damage that can result when a document is jammed inside an ADF. {picture two} The amount of time it takes to repair such damage far exceeds the time of taking a more careful scanning approach. {picture three} This is an example of repairs to a document damaged in an ADF.

Most document feeders use a high curvature paper path to turn over documents (usually to preserve stacking order or to flip for imaging the back side), and this places tension on already torn, brittle or otherwise fragile documents, especially in high-speed / high-volume operations. Even with originals in perfect condition there always exists  the potential for machine malfunctions or human error resulting in damage. Failing to detect staples or tape holding pages together prior to feeding documents will likely result in damage in an ADF.  Another general objection to using ADFs (most relevant for intrinsically valuable originals) is that rubber and urethane rollers come into contact with documents, introducing residual chemical compounds that might affect paper condition over time.

Some places just take light well – the Empire Ranch is definitely one of those places. Once the center of a sprawling cattle empire, the 140 year old ranch headquarters looks out over the high grasslands of Southern Arizona, a handsome region of forested mountain ranges and broad valleys that most Americans might guess was Mexico instead of the United States.

When it comes to the light, it’s not just the nearby Mustang Mountains - backdrop for John Wayne’s 1948 western Red River - that benefit from the low angle winter sun.  The building itself takes on a glow around sundown. The native sacaton grass turns golden for the hour before the sun finally goes down. Even people’s boots look better.

The old ranch headquarters was built in 1870’s in traditional adobe style.  It maintains not only its architectural integrity, but also its function as a working ranch thanks to the efforts of the Empire Ranch Foundation and BLM’s Tucson Field Office.  In 2015, it serves as the first stop for many visitors to the 45,000-acre Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, reminding them that in this sea of grass and mountains, heritage (and the sun) still shines.