Funeral Notice, Mary Henrietta Chase Papers, 1912

Before

During

After

TREATMENT PROPOSAL/AUTHORIZATION FOR TREATMENT

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
Signature of Conservator
Date

TREATMENT OBJECTIVE
The treatment objective is to improve the chemical condition of the object to facilitate handling and access.

DESCRIPTION
GENERAL
The document was printed on machine-made paper using black printing ink.

MEDIA
Black printing ink
The medium is black printing ink.  The planographic printing covers the front of the leaf, with three wide horizontal bars.  There is a wide margin on all four sides.  There is wide spacing between each line of text. The ink application is uneven in both the text and the horizontal bars. 

Blue stamping ink
On the recto of the leaf there are three lines of ink.  The stamp is under the lamination. 

PRIMARY SUPPORT
The primary support is a cream colored machine-made paper.  The sheet has become translucent.  Transmitted light reveals a very even distribution of fibers.  The cellulose acetate lamination precludes further description of the qualities of the paper.

CONDITION
GENERAL
The manuscript is in fair condition, but has been laminated in destructive cellulose acetate.

MEDIA
Black printing ink 
The ink is unevenly printed across the item.  There are areas of paper support that are visible within letters and the black bars. The writing has remained legible and distinct.

Blue stamp ink
The ink appears slightly faded and is feathered along the edges of the lettering.  The writing is legible.

The cellulose acetate lamination has stiffened into almost complete rigidity.  The lamination has a irregular boarder varying between 4-6 mm around the paper.  Yellow adhesive residue is present along the borders of the leaf.  There is delamination evident along the creases.

HOUSING
The document was housed in an archival quality folder within an archival document box.

PHOTO DOCUMENTATION
Digital images before and after treatment in ambient, transmitted, and raking light, overall and details.

TESTING
Cellulose acetate
Small strips of the cellulose acetate laminate were cut off to determine solvent solubility.  Testing was done using acetone, ethyl acetate, acetate, and naptha. A piece of laminate was placed in a Petri dish with small amount of solvent.  A spatula was used to determine if the lamination softened.  Solvent application caused the surface of the laminate to soften.  A portion of the laminate was removed from above the blue stamp.  The stamp ink was tested by placing a small drop of acetone on the surface of the ink.  The ink remained intact.   

Black printing ink, Blue stamping ink
The document is completely incased in plastic and it is not possible to get a meaningful test of the inks. 

Initial testing using drops of acetone to soften the lamination.  Blotter dampened with acetone was placed over a portion on the stamped area to soften the remaining lamination.  After the paper layer was exposed the stamp ink appeared not to run.

POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT
Every effort will be made to protect the integrity of the ink, but it may not be possible to remove the laminated layer without any change to the ink. Once the treatment has begun, the plastic will be fragmented and visually distorted and it will likely not be possible to leave the document in that condition, even if there is some change to the ink.  If any such situation occurs, we will contact the archivist for guidance.  It is possible that the blue stamp will change.  The archivist has stated a preference for the stamp to be removed, if  possible.

TREATMENT PROPOSAL

• Remove lamination as possible.
• Mend tears.
• House in an appropriate archival folder.

TREATMENT PEFORMED

• Document was placed in an acetone bath.  The surface was gently scraped using a flat piece of teflon. (1 hour)
• The document was then placed in an ethyl acetate bath.  The lamination was scraped of with a piece of Teflon and wiped away with cotton balls. (30 minutes)
• Naptha was added to portions of the document that still were covered in lamination.  The remaining lamination was removed using teflon and cotton swabs. (30 minutes)
• Document was allowed to dry in a fume hood until all the solvent had volatilized.
• Humidified in a tray humidity chamber to restore moisture that was lost during solvent bath. (2 hours)
• Mended document using wheat starch paste and light Japanese paper on the recto and slightly heavier Japanese paper on the verso. (30 minutes)
• Housed in an archival folder. 
  

Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes