Treatment Report

Microsoft Word Version

Date:                                                3 April 2006          

PCS Temporary ID#:                        06-46.07

Title:                                                Song Lyrics

Owner/Custodian:                        Center for American History

Curator:                                    Stephanie Malmros 

Subject/Description:                        Manuscript

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 improve the physical stability of the document.

DESCRIPTION

9 3/8" x 15"  (23.8 cm x  38 cm)

The manuscript is written in iron gall ink on machine made, ruled paper folded into a single folio. 

Media

Iron gall ink: The black ink covers the first two pages of the folio with margins ranging from 0-3 cm.  It also appears as a small notation on the upper half of the final page.  It is somewhat unevenly applied, but moderate to dense overall.  A number of inky fingerprints are visible throughout the manuscript, apparently caused by handling of the document before the ink was dry.

Blue ruling lines: The paper is horizontally ruled on both sides at about 1 cm intervals with pale blue lines, except for the final page of the folio, which is not ruled.

Primary Support

The primary support is a pale, blue-grey colored, light weight, machine made laid paper.  The surface is slightly textured.  The folio has been folded once horizontally and three times vertically.

CONDITION

The document is in fair condition overall.

Media

 Iron gall: The ink has faded slightly to a deep brownish-black.  It is slightly abraded in some areas.  Burn-through and slight to moderate haloing have occurred in all areas where the ink was applied, and bleeding has occurred around the ink notation on the final page.

Blue ruling lines:  The dye has faded somewhat but is visible in most areas.  There is no evidence of bleeding.

Primary Support

A thin layer of surface dirt covers the document overall, especially in the upper half of the final page. Much of the dirt is embedded in the paper and has changed the overall appearance of the paper to a light, slightly yellowed, blue color.  A large, irregular brown stain caused by bleeding of the ink on the final page, occupies the upper half of the second leaf of the folio.  Smaller, yellow-brown stains occur throughout the document, especially near the center fold, probably the result of deterioration of the iron-based blue dye used to color the furnish.  The document exhibits light foxing overall.

The paper is slightly distorted throughout, probably from being carried in a pocket, and contains several large creases, most notably in the areas where it was originally folded.   There are several tears along the folds, most prominently along the horizontal fold, and associated losses.

PHOTODOCUMENTATION

Digital images before treatment, front and back.  Overview for ambient, raking, and transmitted light.  Details of staining and tear. 

TESTING

All media, as well as the dye in the paper itself, were tested by contact with a dry cotton swab, for offset onto chromatography paper moistened with water, and with drops of water applied under the microscope.  The stains were also tested, because they occurred near or on areas that required mending.

Iron gall ink: Tiny black particulate offset resulted from contact with a dry cotton swab.  A moderate amount of tiny black particulate matter offset immediately onto damp chromatography paper.  A small amount of floating black particulate matter was observed when drops of water were applied with a brush under magnification.

Blue lines: No offset resulted from light rubbing with a dry cotton swab.  No particulate matter offset onto damp chromatography paper after 60 seconds.  No change was observed when drops of water were applied with a brush under magnification.

Blue paper dye: No offset resulted from light rubbing with a dry cotton swab.  No particulate matter offset onto damp chromatography paper after 60 seconds.  No change was observed when drops of water were applied with a brush under magnification.

Large brown stain: No offset resulted from light rubbing with a dry cotton swab.  No particulate matter offset onto damp chromatography paper after 60 seconds.  The stain bled slightly when drops of water were applied with a brush under magnification.

Yellow stains: No offset resulted from light rubbing with a dry cotton swab.  A pale yellow color bled onto damp chromatography paper after 30 seconds.  The stain bled slightly when drops of water were applied with a brush under magnification.

Total Testing time: 15 min.

TREATMENT PROPOSAL

1)            Dry clean as possible.

2)            Mend and fill as needed.

3)            Rehouse in folder.

Estimated Treatment Time: 3 hours

TREATMENT PERFORMED

1)            Dry cleaned with Magic Rub eraser crumbs (10 minutes)

2)            Mended with toned lens tissue. (3 hours)

3)            Filled loss with toned lens tissue (20 minutes)

4)            Rehoused in original folder.

Total Treatment Time: 3.5 hours