After Treatment
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Dry Cleaning, Mending, Fills
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Treatment Report
Date: 13 February 2006
PCS Temporary ID#: 06-27.13
Owner/Custodian: Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin
Curator: Stephanie Malmros
Subject/Description: Legal document
Conservator: Brenna Campbell
Instructor: Karen Pavelka
Authorization
The undersigned requests and authorizes PCS/KCPCR University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, to undertake conservation treatment of the artifact described in the attached condition report according to the procedures outlined in the appended Treatment Proposal. In the event the owner/custodian authorizes PCCS to proceed with the recommended treatment in the proposal such authorization shall be deemed to include acceptance by the depositor of the terms and conditions appearing in the original Authorization for Examination and Treatment.
Signature of responsible officer for owner/custodian: ________________________________
Date: ____________________________
TREATMENT OBJECTIVE
To permit access to the collection.
DESCRIPTION
12 5/8" x 7 7/8" (32.0 cm x 20.1 cm).
The manuscript legal document is written in iron gall ink on handmade paper that has been folded into quarters.
Media
Iron gall ink: The broadside is written in black iron gall ink. The writing covers all of the front and some of the back of the leaf, extending to within 1.5 cm of each margin. Spacing between lines of writing is roughly 1 cm. In general the lines of the writing are thin and light.
Primary Support
The primary support is an off-white, medium weight, handmade wove paper. All four edges are trimmed. The surface is moderately textured. The paper contains a watermark.
CONDITION
The document is in poor condition overall.
Media
Iron gall ink: The iron gall ink is in fairly good condition. It has faded and turned brown, particularly on the obverse, but it is generally legible. Some sinking and haloing is visible. The signatures, which appear to be written in a different ink, are especially faded.
Primary Support
Primary support has darkened to a yellow beige. There is heavy surface dirt and associated staining, particularly on the lower half of the reverse. There are small and medium water stains and tidelines throughout the leaf. An oval-shaped spot of grayish brown roughly 8mm in diameter is visible on the right hand side of the third quarter of the obverse. A small (3-4mm), black, powdery accretion is visible above the right hand signature on the obverse. Small (1-2mm), round specks that resemble flyspecks are visible, especially on the lower half of the reverse.
The edges of the paper are somewhat worn, and some areas along the edges and corners are folded in and abraded. The paper was folded into quarters, and is creased along the fold lines. Losses have occurred along the right hand side as a result of these folds. A large, three-pronged crack extends through much of the text on the left hand side of the third quarter of the document, but does not reach the margin. The left hand margin contains two very large losses, which appear to be the result of insect infestation while the document was folded. Small losses and areas of thinning occur throughout the document, and are probably also insect damage. The areas that appear to have been chewed by insects are somewhat brittle.
PHOTODOCUMENTATION
Digital images before and after treatment, front and back. Overview for ambient, raking, and transmitted light.
TESTING
All media and dark spots were tested for particulate matter by contact with a dry cotton swab.
Iron gall ink: No particulate offset.
Black spot on obverse: Some particulate offset.
Black spot on reverse: Heavy particulate offset
Flyspecks: Light particulate offset.
Total Testing time: 10 min.
TREATMENT PROPOSAL
1) Overall dry clean as possible.
2) Mend and fill as needed.
3) Rehouse in original folder.
Estimated Treatment Time: 3 hours
TREATMENT NOTES
Tears and cracks in the document were mended with untoned lens tissue by another conservator.
TREATMENT PERFORMED
1) Dry cleaned overall with Magic Rub eraser crumbs. (30 minutes)
2) Mended tears and cracks with untoned lens tissue. (1 hour)
3) Filled losses with toned Japanese tissue. (1 hour)
4) Rehoused in original folder.
Total Treatment Time: 2.5 hours
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