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

Treatment Information

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Date: 5/4/06       Temporary ID: 06-46.08          

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:                              Letter “Amandy”

Creator:                         John A. Holcomb

Date of Production:       October 11, 1862

Place of Production:      Texas

Approximate Dimensions: 35.1cm x 21.8cm (13 13/16”x8 9/16”) 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 improve access and handling.

Description

General

35.1cm x 21.8cm (13 13/16”x8 9/16”) h/w

The letter is handwritten in graphite on machine-made paper, with the address and delivery instructions in iron gall ink.

Media

Graphite:

The graphite is written with varying pressure from very light to heavy across three pages.

Iron Gall Ink:

The address and delivery instructions are written on the fourth page in dense, black ink. 

Wax Seal:

Red sealing wax was used to seal the letter.

Primary Support

The primary support is a single leaf of cream colored, good quality, medium weight, machine-made, wove paper.  The paper appears to be good quality as evidenced by its flexibility.  The paper has a slightly textured surface.  The edges of the leaf are gilded in gold.  The leaf was folded half to create a folio that was then folded multiple times.

Condition

General

The letter is in good condition overall.

Media

Graphite:

The graphite is in good condition, with no sign of smudging or abrasion.

Iron Gall Ink:

The iron gall ink has faded to brown.  The ink has burned through there is fall out in the densest areas of ink.

Wax:

Half of the seal is missing, but the remaining wax is in good condition.  The wax is not readily friable under pressure.

Primary Support

The support is in good shape overall.  There is little to no grime on the surface. Overall, the paper has browned with extensive staining on the exterior portion of the letter. There are two fingerprints visible on the front of the letter.

There are multiple minor losses and tears along the creases.

Photodocumentation

Digital images were taken before 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 using two methods, one dry and one wet.

• 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

• Graphite: Minor particulate offset with gentle abrasion. There was no offset observed with the wet testing.
• Iron gall ink: There was no particulate offset with the cotton swab.  There was brown dye offset after 5 seconds onto the chromotagraphy paper.
• Wax: No change.

Treatment Proposal

• Dry clean as possible
• Mend as necessary
• House in folder

Treatment Notes

Due to the extensive use of graphite and overall cleanliness of the manuscript, extensive dry cleaning with eraser crumbs was not undertaken in this treatment.

Treatment Performed

1) Tested for media solubility. (45 min.)

2) Lightly cleaned both sides of the document with a soft brush. (5 min.)

3) Mended tears in the manuscript with toned lens paper and wheat starch paste. (180 min.)

4) Dried mends under blotter and weight. (5 min.)

5) Lined area of iron gall ink damage with heat-set tissue made from Hiromi lightest kozo and Library of Congress heat-set solution. Two edges of the lining had to be re-adhered with wheat starch paste to prevent lifting.  (45 min.)

6) Placed completed item in an appropriately sized 70# Mohawk Paper folder. (10 min.)

Total Treatment Time

4 hours 50 minutes