Boxing Our Treasures

This video takes viewers inside the preservation lab at the National Archives where specialists construct custom boxes for items as varied as a Cold War-era pistol and a 1761 Indian treaty. The boxes can be simple, built to house a book — or extremely complex, holding multiple, related items in multi-chambered constructions.

Conservation technician Richard Hnat shows how items are digitally measured and conservation specialist Doug Mcrae shows how those measurements are translated into custom instructions for the Archives’ automated box-making machine. Gail Harriman explains that the materials used to construct housings meet rigid archival standards: acid free, lignin free, high cotton content, etc.

Happy May Day! 

For those of you thinking about romps around the maypole, and cute kids dressed up as May kings and queens, think again. 

MayDay is also a day when archives, libraries, museums, and other cultural organizations participate in a national effort to prepare for disasters. MayDay encourages us to take one simple step to protect the holdings under our care. 

This year, Preservation Programs has created signs to hang in the stacks that list the First Four things you need to do if you see that records are at risk. 

Although these signs are designed specifically for the National Archives, the concept holds true for any institution. The main things to remember are:

  • Safety First!
  • Report the incident (Exactly who to report it to will depend on your situation).
  • Do not move wet records. It’s safer for you and the records to wait until the situation has been stabilized.

If the event is large enough, call a reputable recovery vendor who has experience working with document recovery. 

Here at NARA, we take records emergencies seriously, and we all have a role to play in protecting the nation’s records against damage from emergencies. This is why all of our facilities have records emergency plans that are updated annually.

What are you doing for MayDay 2012?

The Archives I Conservation lab is featured in a wonderful two-page spread in the May 2012 issue of Washingtonian magazine. On pages 26-27, the spread is in the “Capital Comment” section called “Behind the Scenes” and is titled”Treasure Trove.” Congratulations to Morgan Zinsmeister, Annie Wilker, and Daniel Dancis!
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The Archives I Conservation lab is featured in a wonderful two-page spread in the May 2012 issue of Washingtonian magazine. On pages 26-27, the spread is in the “Capital Comment” section called “Behind the Scenes” and is titled”Treasure Trove.” Congratulations to Morgan Zinsmeister, Annie Wilker, and Daniel Dancis!

From our friends in the Motion Picture Preservation Lab:

We realize that it’s been a bit quiet on our end, but the staff of the Motion Picture Preservation Lab has been BUSY! We’ve implemented our Film Digitization Program here and have just finished our first restoration and created our first Digital Theater Print! The premier screening will be held at the FIAF conference in Beijing next week. We hope to include it in a longer program in the near future at NARA, but for now you can get a sneak peek on You Tube! More to come about the details of the work it took to get this looking SO good!

When Records Get Dirty Over the past four years, Preservation Programs in St. Louis has been dealing with a few extremely nasty problems—namely, mold infestation and bird guano. Some of the mold was related to the 1973 fire, at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Other areas had leaks that developed after the 6th floor was demolished (because it had burned), and the fire suppression and pipe systems had to be re-adjusted. But how did the bird guano get into the records? St. Louis is known for its extremely hot and humid summers, and in our old building many of the non-archival records storage areas weren’t climate controlled. The staff members frequently opened the windows (removing the screens, for some reason), and in flew the birds. You can guess the rest. We found nests. We found feathers. We even found eggs. We didn’t want to bring these contaminated records to our clean, new, archivally climate-controlled building. We received funding to have most of them—12,372 boxes’ worth—sent away to be gamma radiated, at a cost of nearly $1.5 million. But first we had to survey all of the boxes. We found 14,719 cubic feet of moldy records and 8,200 cubic feet of boxes with guano in them. The preservation technician in the above photo didn’t actually treat the records; the guano-infested boxes were hauled away for cleaning by movers in full hazmat suits. Techs weren’t even allowed to touch the guano boxes, so that we didn’t spread contaminated material during the survey. Thankfully, the project is nearly over. And while there is still more work to be done, we were able to make the records safe to handle for future use.
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When Records Get Dirty

Over the past four years, Preservation Programs in St. Louis has been dealing with a few extremely nasty problems—namely, mold infestation and bird guano.

Some of the mold was related to the 1973 fire, at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Other areas had leaks that developed after the 6th floor was demolished (because it had burned), and the fire suppression and pipe systems had to be re-adjusted.

But how did the bird guano get into the records? St. Louis is known for its extremely hot and humid summers, and in our old building many of the non-archival records storage areas weren’t climate controlled. The staff members frequently opened the windows (removing the screens, for some reason), and in flew the birds. You can guess the rest. We found nests. We found feathers. We even found eggs.

We didn’t want to bring these contaminated records to our clean, new, archivally climate-controlled building. We received funding to have most of them—12,372 boxes’ worth—sent away to be gamma radiated, at a cost of nearly $1.5 million.

But first we had to survey all of the boxes. We found 14,719 cubic feet of moldy records and 8,200 cubic feet of boxes with guano in them. The preservation technician in the above photo didn’t actually treat the records; the guano-infested boxes were hauled away for cleaning by movers in full hazmat suits. Techs weren’t even allowed to touch the guano boxes, so that we didn’t spread contaminated material during the survey.

Thankfully, the project is nearly over. And while there is still more work to be done, we were able to make the records safe to handle for future use.

usnatarchives: All day long we’ve been listening to metallic clinks and bangs! The 2012 Genealogy Fair starts on Wednesday, and the tents are being assembled just outside the main entrance. As always, it’s free. This year we have three classrooms for lectures, food trucks in the side parking lot, a “Help! I’m Stuck” booth staffed by our archivists, and lots of great vendors. For a list of speakers, topics, and times, visit our Genealogy Fair homepage: http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/know-your-records/genealogy-fair/. Are you coming to the Genealogy Fair? Follow us at @Archivesnews and @USNatArchives #GenieFair2012
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usnatarchives:

All day long we’ve been listening to metallic clinks and bangs! The 2012 Genealogy Fair starts on Wednesday, and the tents are being assembled just outside the main entrance. As always, it’s free. This year we have three classrooms for lectures, food trucks in the side parking lot, a “Help! I’m Stuck” booth staffed by our archivists, and lots of great vendors. For a list of speakers, topics, and times, visit our Genealogy Fair homepage: http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/know-your-records/genealogy-fair/.

Are you coming to the Genealogy Fair?

Follow us at @Archivesnews and @USNatArchives #GenieFair2012

Source: usnatarchives

D.C. Emancipation Act Anniversary

April 16th is the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln’s signing the District of Columbia Emancipation Act. This act provided for compensation of former owners loyal to the Union who freed slaves. Its model of compensation was not followed in the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, but it signaled the coming end of slavery. For many years, it was celebrated in Washington with parades and other events. If your income tax return is not done, this anniversary is why you have an extra day to do it. 

D.C. Emancipation Act, Public Law 37-50, April 16, 1862 “An Act for the release of certain persons from service or labor in the District of Columbia” Record Group 11 is written on parchment in iron gall ink with some printed text. The first and signature pages are on view now at the Capitol Visitor Center to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The parchment sheets were encapsulated in polyester and mounted in a double window mat of archival board. The document was then covered with acrylic that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation.

April 15th marks the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic. A mounted photograph depicting Lifeboat No. 6 traveled from the National Archives in New York (New York City) to the conservation laboratory in Washington, DC. The photograph itself is in very good condition; however, the mount has sustained damage over the years due to frequent handling and acidic materials. This damage poses a risk to the photograph. Therefore, custom housing and repairs to the cracks will protect the mount and the photograph from future damage. The image the survivors is part of (RG 21) Records of the District Courts of the United States (ARC ID: 278338)
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April 15th marks the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic. A mounted photograph depicting Lifeboat No. 6 traveled from the National Archives in New York (New York City) to the conservation laboratory in Washington, DC. The photograph itself is in very good condition; however, the mount has sustained damage over the years due to frequent handling and acidic materials. This damage poses a risk to the photograph. Therefore, custom housing and repairs to the cracks will protect the mount and the photograph from future damage. The image the survivors is part of (RG 21) Records of the District Courts of the United States (ARC ID: 278338)

In the Labs: Court Documents Concerning Losses from the Sinking of the Titanic  After its launch on April 10, 1912, few could have imagined that the Titanic would sink in 5 days on April 15, resulting in a case in US courts over liability for loss of life, property, personal property and injury. This court document, treated in conservation, will be a part of NARA at the New York’s exhibit “The World’s Port” opening later this year at their new facility in the NY Customs House.  RG 21 US District court for the Southern District of New York, Admiralty Case Files, Case #A55-279, Titanic Limitation of Liability, Commissioner’s Report of Claims. 
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In the Labs: Court Documents Concerning Losses from the Sinking of the Titanic 

After its launch on April 10, 1912, few could have imagined that the Titanic would sink in 5 days on April 15, resulting in a case in US courts over liability for loss of life, property, personal property and injury. This court document, treated in conservation, will be a part of NARA at the New York’s exhibit “The World’s Port” opening later this year at their new facility in the NY Customs House. 

RG 21 US District court for the Southern District of New York, Admiralty Case Files, Case #A55-279, Titanic Limitation of Liability, Commissioner’s Report of Claims. 

Conserving the Memorandum Announcing the Titanic Disaster After conservation treatment, the Daily Memorandum was mounted with a technique commonly used at the National Archives. The document rests on a cotton rag board of known chemical stability.  The rag board itself has been adhered to a sheet of acrylic to make it rigid.  Folded polyester tabs were used to attach the document to the mount.  This mounting system ensures that no adhesive come in contact with the document.  The document can be easily removed once it comes off exhibit.
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Conserving the Memorandum Announcing the Titanic Disaster

After conservation treatment, the Daily Memorandum was mounted with a technique commonly used at the National Archives. The document rests on a cotton rag board of known chemical stability.  The rag board itself has been adhered to a sheet of acrylic to make it rigid.  Folded polyester tabs were used to attach the document to the mount.  This mounting system ensures that no adhesive come in contact with the document.  The document can be easily removed once it comes off exhibit.