Category: Exhibit

The following items are currently on display at the School of Information.

This semester, the students of Karen Pavelka’s Treatment Techniques of Flat Paper course worked to conserve a collection of papers from early nineteenth century soldier Colonel James Harvey Hook. These papers, on loan from the Briscoe Center, required a variety of intensive repairs. Three of the papers the students worked to conserve are on display here. As you see the transformation of these papers, you can read the descriptions of exactly what the conservators did to bring each item from “before” to “after.”

The first item is a parchment signed by William Eustis appointing Captain James Hook a Second Lieutenant.

Presidential Appointment promoting Colonel Hook to Second Lieutenant, September 1, 1812. Conservator: Paper Conservation Class

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The conservators sought to address the damages caused by the sixteen folds of the parchment. Additionally, although there is some water and fire damage to the document, the conservators focused on flattening the wrinkled parchment to ensure the longevity of the piece.

In order to stretch and flatten the document, the conservators needed to increase levels of humidity. The conservators used a material called Gore-Tex in order to introduce low levels of moisture without causing significant damage to the iron gall ink used on the parchment. The conservators placed the parchment between sheets of Gore-Tex, Hollytex (a type of polyester sheet), and dampened blotter paper. The conservators left the parchment overnight in order to allow the humidity to relax the document. Once this process was complete, the conservators adhered clips to the parchment to stretch the document.

The conservators chose to flatten and stretch the parchment, because addressing these issues increased readability and potential usability of the document. The minimal fire and water damage did not affect the iron gall or intaglio inks used on the parchment, making the wrinkle damage the central issue to address.  

Handwritten Letter to Colonel Hook from Dr. Buck, May 26, 1840. Conservator: Brady Cox

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The author of this letter mainly used Prussian blue ink to write on handmade, laid, rag paper. Before conservation, the letter was in relatively clean condition, and the conservator simply used a soot sponge to reduce surface grime. In order to mail it without an envelope, the author folded the letter as a folio.  The conservator applied a paintbrush to moisten the folds and then weights to flatten them.  Over years, custodians laid the letter flat for preservation. While the folds needed the most conservatory attention compared to other minimal treatment, the conservator received it in overall good condition.

Conservation begins with visual examination to identify materials without touching the object.  In some cases, it is appropriate to proceed to instrumental analysis. For example, in the case of this letter, the conservator could visually identify all materials with the exception of its seal.  He applied a drop of water to the seal and it softened within seconds. With pressure from a tungsten needle, he saw a slight impression that allowed him to determine the material as starch.

The letter’s author evenly and lightly applied Prussian blue ink. After folding the letter as a folio, he used iron gall ink to address it, and there are also traces of graphite in the address panel. The conservator could decipher the addressee, signature, and date in the evenly spaced text. This exemplifies a practice of paleography, the study of handwriting, to read historical documents.   

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The conservator practiced preservation standards throughout the treatment process. For example, although the letter’s seal was broken, he did not mend the resulting tears to preserve its authenticity.  He only treated three small tears at the edges of the already well-preserved object, in areas that a researcher would handle and possibly cause further damage if not mended.

Handwritten Copy of Letter to Hook from John C. Calhoun, March 31, 1825. Conservators: Linna Dean and Erin Shook

This letter is written in iron gall ink on machine made, blue ruled paper. The ink has faded significantly. Before conservation, the letter had broken into several pieces due to the brittle condition of the paper. This rendered the letter’s content mostly illegible. Conservators cleaned surface grime from the letter, flattened the paper, and mended the tears.

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A conservator gently cleaned the letter using a soot sponge. Because the paper was in a fragile initial state, she was careful not to cause further damage in the cleaning process.

In preparation for mending, a conservator humidified the paper to open tears. She then mended the tears using lens tissue paper and a wheat starch adhesive, first attaching the main components of the paper with small hinge mends to prevent bunching or ruching as she worked out from the center to repair tears. Because writing only appears on the recto of the object, she mended tears from the verso. She flattened and mended in tandem to maximize time.

When mending tears, the conservator seeks to restore authentic unity of the sheet and preserve physical integrity. As always, the conservator’s role is not to modify or enhance the original state of the document, but to return it to a previous, usable state. This letter is now readable and in a single sheet. The conservators documented the process carefully, and areas where the conservator applied tissue paper and adhesive are visible, showing the intricate mending process so that the story of this once fragmented page remains intact.

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