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PRESERVATION NEWS

C&RL News, December 2006
Vol. 67, No. 11

by Jane Hedberg

Florence flood anniversary
On November 4, 1966, the Arno River overflowed its banks and spread devastation through the priceless buildings and collections in Florence, Italy. There was an unprecedented response to the disaster, with conservators from around the world and an army of “mud angels” converging in Florence to rescue the damaged collections. The flood was a literal and figurative watershed event for preservation and conservation, beginning their transformations into the professional specializations we recognize today.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the response and to honor the individuals who responded, New York University’s Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts and Villa la Pietra cosponsored an international symposium in Florence on November 10–11, 2006. Speakers reviewed the history of the flood, development of mass treatments, innovations to individual treatments, and changes in conservation training. In addition to the presentations, the mayor of Florence joined other political leaders, including the mayors of New Orleans, Dresden, and Prague and Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), in presenting a declaration of commitment to conservation and protection of art treasures following natural disasters.

SAA photo collection guide
The Society of American Archivists (SAA) has published Photographs: Archival Care and Management by Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler and Diane Vogt-O’Connor with Helena Zinkham, Brett Carnell, and Kit Peterson. This 550-page book offers pragmatic approaches to managing photograph collections of all sizes held by all types of cultural heritage organizations. It covers appraisal, accessioning, arrangement, description, and research use. It also covers the history of photography, preservation issues and techniques, interpreting photographs, legal issues, digitizing, and using photographs in outreach and education efforts. There are nearly 300 illustrations, plus a bibliography, information about funding sources, and a list of professional organizations concerned with photographs.

The book costs $50.00 for SAA members and $84.95 for nonmembers. For more information or to order, consult the SAA online Publications and Products Catalog at www.archivists.org/catalog/pubDetail.asp?objectID=1995.

AIC photo workshop
The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) and the National Park Service’s Harpers Ferry Center for Conservation will offer Basic Treatment of Black and White Silver Gelatin Photographs, February 12–15, 2007, at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. This four-day workshop, taught by Gary Albright and Barbara Lemmen, will provide training in basic treatment techniques to mid-career paper conservators who are responsible for silver gelatin developed-out photographic prints (SGDOPs). Participants will review the history, creation, deterioration, and identification of these prints; examine sample photographs; practice fundamental skills (surface cleaning, mending, crease reduction and flattening); and complete a treatment project.

The workshop costs $525 for AIC members and $750 for nonmembers. The registration deadline is January 12, 2007, but registration is limited, so early application is advised. For more information, contact Eric Pourchot, AIC, 1717 K Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20036; phone: (202) 452-9545, ext. 12; fax: (202) 452-9328; e-mail: epourchot@aic-faic.org; URL: aic.stanford.edu/education/workshops/pho701des.pdf. 

Jane Hedberg is preservation program officer at Harvard University Library, e-mail: jane_hedberg@harvard.edu; fax: (617) 496-8344