M.S.I.S Candidate, University of Texas-Austin, School of Information
C.A.S. Conservation Candidate, Kilgarlin Center for Preservation of the Cultural Record
Before Treatment
After Treatment
During Treatment
Treatment Information
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Date: 5/4/06 Temporary ID: 06-43
Conservator: Fletcher Durant
Identification of Artifact
Owner/Custodian: Center for American History
Address: Sid Richardson Hall 2.101
1 University Station D1100
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712-0335
Curator/Contact: Brenda Gunn
Title: The Last Chance for Cavalry: For the War
Creator: [James A. Thompson]
Date of Production: [March 16] 1862
Place of Production: Austin, TX
Approximate Dimensions: 32.5cm x 26.3cm (12 13/16”x 10 3/8”) h/w
Authorization
The undersigned requests and authorizes the Kilgarlin Center University of Texas-Austin, Austin, TX, 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 the Kilgarlin Center to proceed with the treatment recommended 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 Objectives
To prevent further damage from adhesive tape.
Description
General
32.5cm x 26.3cm (12 13/16”x 10 3/8”) h/w
The broadside is printed on poor-quality wove paper.
Media
Black printing ink
The printing ink is a poorly printed letterpress broadside. The ink is flat and unevenly applied. The content covers the front of the document.
Graphite
There are three lines of lightly applied manuscript in graphite on the back of the broadside.
Primary Support
The primary support is a single leaf of poor-quality cream colored, slightly textured, medium weight, machine-made, wove paper. The paper is very soft to the touch with little sizing, and it has fibers of unprocessed vegetable matter embedded in it. There are pinholes in all four corners, presumably from being tacked up.
Condition
General
The broadside is in fair condition overall.
Media
Black Printing Ink
The ink is in good shape, although some abrasion is evident. There is an oily haloing visible around most of the letters, extending ½-2mm from the text. The ink has sunk through the support in some locations.
Graphite
The graphite is in fair shape. It is light enough so as to make it difficult to read in some areas, with density loss coming from abrasion.
Primary Support
The support is in fair condition overall. There is a heavy layer of grime on the surface. There are large mirrored tide-lines from water-staining running vertically up both sides. The paper has darkened to a light tan outside of the stains.
The broadside was folded into sixteenths and there is minor fiber damage visible under transmitted light running along the folds. There are two small losses at the intersection of the folds and other minor losses of fiber are visible under transmitted light.
Tape
There are four pieces of water-soluble adhesive tape adhered to the back of the broadside. Two pieces are approximately 1.4cm x 1.3cm (1/2”x1/2”), and the other two pieces are approximately 6cm x1.5cm (2 3/8”x5/8”). The carrier has yellowed and the adhesive appears desiccated and loosely adhered on the two smaller pieces of tape.
Photodocumentation
Digital images were taken before and after treatment in ambient, raking, and transmitted light. The photographs include both overall and detailed shots.
Testing
Protocol
Media was tested at inconspicuous locations for offset.
- Tested for particulate offset using a dry cotton swab with gentle abrasion.
- Tested for dye offset using chromatography paper moistened with distilled water pressed over the media for 1, 5, and 30 seconds
Results
- Black Printing Ink: No offset observed during wet or dry testing in sampled locations.
- Graphite: Minor particulate offset with light pressure. There was no offset observed with the wet testing.
Treatment Proposal
- Dry clean as possible
- Remove water-soluble adhesive tape using a methyl-cellulose poultice as possible
- Stain reduction as possible
- Mend as necessary
- House in folder
Possible Effects of Treatment
It is likely that the stains will not be removed completely.
Treatment Notes
After successfully removal of the water-soluble tape, it was decided in concert with the instructor, Karen Pavelka, to attempt to reduce the tide-lines by washing the item in a water bath. While wetting out the broadside between blotters, blue stains were discovered on the blotter and found to be coming from locations of previously undetected in-painting. Treatment was immediately stopped, and the item was dried between blotters to arrest the bleeding of the ink. At this point, stain reduction was begun on a vacuum table with dilute ammonium hydroxide. Upon completion of the stain reduction cycle, the item was fully dried under felts before being in-painted.
Treatment Performed
1) Tested for media solubility. (30 min.)
2) Lightly cleaned both sides of the document with a soft brush. (5 min.)
3) Dry cleaned both sides of the document with medium grain Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser crumbs. (15 min.)
4) Mechanically removed the two smaller pieces of tape with a microspatula. (15 min.)
5) Applied a 4% methylcellulose poultice over remaining pieces of tape. Allowed to sit until adhesive softened. (15 min.)
6) Mechanically removed carrier and adhesive with a micro spatula. Allowed to dry under packages of blotter and weight. (25 min.)
7) Began to spray up broadside with deionized water in preparation for stain reduction in a water bath. (5 min.)
8) Observed bleeding of previously undetected blue dye. Immediately halted treatment and dried under series of blotter packages. (20 min.)
9) Undertook stain reduction on a vacuum table, by gently pulling through dilute ammonium hydroxide solution and deionized water from the front to the back in the affected areas. (6 hours)
10) Dried under felts and weight. (48 hours)
10) In-painted residual dye-stains with Derwent Pastel Pencils (Brown Ochre, Burnt Siena, and Chinese White). (3 hours)
11) Placed completed item in an appropriately sized 70# Mohawk Paper folder. (10 min.)
Total Treatment Time
11 hours 20 minutes