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Category: Preservation

Papyrus document on table and two hands holding tools lifting a section of the document

Unfolding History: Conserving Papyrus

Posted by: Chloe Genter

Papyrus is a unique material among the vast holdings of the Library of Congress, but these early fragmentary texts give us remarkable glimpses into history. Specialized training was undertaken and given to conserve papyri at the Library, resulting in the recent conservation treatment of a collection of papyri from the African and Middle Eastern Division.

The same side of the cardboard box that had a missing section on the corner on the right side. The missing areas have been repaired and filled so that the side looks whole again.

Explainette!? A 1950’s Training Time Capsule

Posted by: Chloe Genter

A wholly unique object acts as a snapshot in time. The object - an Explainette, and its accompanying film, LPs, and booklets featured a variety of different materials and challenges. It came to the Conservation Division for treatment and housing so that it could be regularly displayed for visitors in the future.

Two images side by side, showing the completed models after treatment

(re)Building Rudolph: What Goes into a Monumental Loan

Posted by: Chloe Genter

Two large architectural models by Paul Rudolph were selected as part of a large loan that will be on display September 2024. The models were in extremely poor condition, broken, water- damaged, and covered in a thick layer of dust and debris. A team of five5 technicians and the objects conservator worked to get the models back into stable and displayable condition.