"Boston.  Convention of Delegates on Proposed Annexation of Texas, 1845.  Proceedings of a Convention of Delegates" - Dry clean, re-house

Before Treatment

During Treatment

After Treatment

Download Word Version of Treatment Report

TREATMENT PROPOSAL/AUTHORIZATION FOR TREATMENT

              
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 OBJECTIVE
Improve the chemical and physical stability of the pamphlet for access and handling.

DESCRIPTION
A nine-sheet 19th century political pamphlet bound in an acidic commercial pamphlet  binder.  It is unclear how the pamphlet was originally sewn, but there are currently two stable sewing structures.  The pamphlet was stab sewn together first and then later an acidic piece of paper was wrapped around the textblock and a second stab sewing was performed to attach the pamphlet to the commercial binder.  The textblock is in fair condition overall.  The cut edges are slightly sooty and the machine-made, medium weight, slightly textured, cream colored paper of the textblock has discolored to a beige color.  The last page of the pamphlet exhibits the most discoloration.  This appears to be due to acid migration from the adjacent acidic paper wrapper.  The recto of the first page of the pamphlet has a pressure sensitive tape mend with graphite writing over it that extends across the middle of the page.  The paper fibers around this mend are heavily abraded, possibly caused by an eraser. 

A 1.4 cm x 13.3 cm paper fragment was enclosed in the gutter between pages 8 and 9.  The small fragment is a clipping from a 1906 catalog that lists the price for this pamphlet at $1.00.

The pamphlet is relief printed with an even, matte, black printing ink.  Four pages have graphite annotations and two pages were stamped with a library ownership mark in a black stamp pad ink that has bled to the recto of each page. 

PHOTODOCUMENTATION
Digital photographs were taken before and after treatment in ambient light.  The photographs include overall shots, as well as detailed shots.

TESTING
Protocol
The inks were tested for their stability using three different tests:

• Particulate offset was tested using a dry cotton swab and gentle abrasion.  The test was done under a microscope so that the smallest amount of offset would be detected.
• Dye offset was tested by contacting a piece of chromatography paper, moistened with deionized water, with the medium for up to 10 seconds, and looking under a microscope for offset of the medium onto the chromatography paper.
• Solubility was tested by applying a very small droplet of deionized water to an inconspicuous area of the medium and allowing the water to sink into the paper.  The test was performed under magnification to detect the first sign of change.

Results

• Black Printing Ink
• No particulate offset when tested with a cotton swab.
• No offset onto the moistened chromatography paper.
• No change with the water droplet test.
• Graphite
• Particulate offset when tested with the cotton swab.
• No offset onto the moistened chromatography paper.
• No change with the water droplet test.
•  Black Writing Ink
• No particulate offset when tested with a cotton swab.
• No offset onto the moistened chromatography paper.
• A small droplet of water did not result in movement of the ink.  This test was also completed using a 50/50 mixture of deionized water/ethanol and the ink did not move.

TREATMENT PROPOSAL

• Remove pamphlet from acidic binder.
• Dry-clean as possible.
• Wash as possible.
• Mend tears and fill losses as appropriate.
• Resew the pamphlet into a paper cover.
• Rehouse in a pambinder within an envelope.

Total Treatment Time Proposed: 3 hours

CHANGE IN TREATMENT PROPOSAL
The treatment proposal was changed after consultation with the Curator.  The pressure sensitive tape with graphite annotations attached to the recto of the first page will be retained and the pamphlet will not be washed.  Instead, the pamphlet will be dry-cleaned as possible, removed from the acidic commercial pamphlet binder and rehoused in a custom-made tuxedo box.

TREATMENT PERFORMED

• Dry cleaned pamphlet using a soft brush. (10 min.)
• Removed pamphlet from the acidic binder by cutting the stab sewing. (5 min.)
• Re-housed the pamphlet in a tuxedo box attached to a custom-made pamphlet binder. (2 hrs.)

Total Treatment Time:  2 hr. 15 min.