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Two people carefully adjust the position of a shallow box holding a portrait of George Washington under the lens of a microscope.

Exceptional! Identifying Artist Materials in an Early Portrait of George Washington

Posted by: Megan Zins

In celebration of Washington’s birthday this year, learn about a special portrait of the nation’s first president. Scientists in the Library’s Preservation Research and Testing Division, working with a visiting researcher, recently discovered the use of a unique artist material in the drawing, making it a truly exceptional portrait of President George Washington.

Posted in: Heritage Science, Pigments, Preservation, Tangible Media, Tools of the Trade

A teenager wearing a long, teal lab coat and safety glasses pouring a solution into a glass funnel.

Surface Texture and the Complexities of Paper

Posted by: Megan Zins

Summer intern Oliver Ding discusses working with the Preservation Research & Testing Division in the heart of Washington D.C. Through the American Chemical Society’s Project SEED, Oliver gained access to a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), dabbled with lignin spot tests, and explored the complexity of colorants on paper.

Posted in: Events & Outreach, Heritage Science, Internships, Tangible Media, Tools of the Trade