Graphic Conservation

Website Launch Open House and You're Invited!

2009-10-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

Have you've ever wanted a personal, behind the scenes look at where and how art is restored? Come to our Open House!

We're excited about the launch of our new website and we're in the mood to celebrate! Come on by after work and get a tour of our lab, see samples of our work and art restoration in progress! Most importantly, relax with a bite of food, a glass of wine and stimulating conversation!

Graphic Conservation Fall Open House

WHEN: Thursday, October 29th 6 pm - 9 pm
WHERE: Our Lab, 329 w. 18th St. Suite 701 Chicago Need directions? Click here!
Our Location is easily accessible from 90/94 from the 18th st/Canalport exit
Free indoor parking available in our garage.
Wine and Hors d'œuvre's

If you have any items you'd like to have us look at, bring it along for a free condition report and examination.

Please RSVP via email by Tuesday, October 27th.

We hope to see you all there!

Awesome Before/After Pics: Our New Website Makeover

2009-09-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce the launch of the new and improved GraphicConservation.com. Dynamic new features paired with new educational pages help make GraphicConservation.com a premier reference tool in the online world of Art Conservation.

Nothing is immune to the erosion of time and times certainly have changed since Graphic Conservation went online in 1999. Thankfully our bodies don't age as quickly as digital media, where a ten year span can make the latest cutting edge look like it came out of the ice age. With only a few sparse updates over the past ten years, our old website was definitely looking Jurassic. We've spent the last few weeks focusing our skills at "arresting deterioration and repairing damage" to bring our homepage into the new millennium!

We are excited to announce the massive makeover to our website is complete! Dynamic new features and educational pages for our image driven site include:

A flash slideshow of our before/after treatment image gallery in Our Work section.
An easily searchable dictionary of conservation glossary terms.
A new list of Frequently Asked Questions on conservation concerns.
A google map plugin in Our Location page will generate a map to our lab from any location.
Quick links to finding an appraiser or conservator in your area.
Extensive link guide to Grant funding for the arts and archival suppliers.

We do so love our before/after pics. Click here to get the effect: Before and After.

Hurricane Katrina Restoration Remembered: Drysdale Painting

2009-08-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

For the past week or two, we've been going through years of before and after treatment photographs as part of the huge project of updating our website (which we hope to have complete by our next monthly blog post). While sorting photos, I came upon these images of a treatment we performed on painting by Alexander J. Drysdale which was severely water damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

Before (left), during (middle) and after (right) treatment images of an A. J. Drysdale painting from New Orleans.

This week marks the fourth year anniversary since that horrific time, so we thought we would profile this treatment in remembrance of the cataclysmic events which caused so much ruin and to pay homage to the massive rescue efforts which brought our nation together.

This oil painting was done on an artist's board somewhere around the earlier part of the last century. As you can see, the painting before treatment (below) shows a great amount of damage. There are many losses to the image area especially along the upper and lower edges. The artwork has a lot of wavyness and dirt and mold damage due to water damage from the hurricane flooding.

Artist boards of this type were made with layers of brown wood pulp board plied together and then covered with a thin white paper as a cover. The plies (thin layers) were glued together to form one layer. However, due to the water damage, the thin paper containing the painted image was separating from the backing board in many places. Because the wood pulp board was poor quality anyway, it was necessary to remove the paper from the wood board. This however, was a very very scary prospect. The paper was incredibly delicate, thin and brittle. Imagine trying to remove the the printed image from a modern box of cereal free of the brown cardboard fibers and without causing a lot of damage to image area.

The painting after being mounted to Japaense tissue (left) and the complete treatment with inpainting (right).

It was a very tense treatment, but we were successfully able to separate the paper and safely stabilized by mounting it onto a Japanese tissue backing using wheat starch paste. The mud on the surface of the painting was delicately removed, and losses were filled and inpainted. This painting represented a wonderful success story, and we were proud to be a small part of the huge restoration effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Restored T206 Honus Wagner Card Up For Auction!

2009-07-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

For anyone who knows anything about Baseball ephemera, the T206 Honus Wagner card is the the holy grail, the Mona Lisa, the Bugatti Royale of baseball cards. To claim one in your collection is the absolute, ultimate high of any baseball collector.

But unlike the Mona Lisa, it may just be possible to own a T206 Wagner card without a black face mask or a fast getaway car. Check out this video where Doug Allen, of Legendary Auctions is making this possible with an authentic Wagner card which has been restored to its previous glory.

I wonder who did the work? Got any guesses?

And if you're left still wanting more info, read about the card's history on its lot detail.
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**UPDATE 8/11/09: On August 7th, the restored Honus Wagner Card sold at Auction for $220,000. That's quite a few clams!

Ask the Conservator: Damaged Die Cut Ad Displays

2009-06-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

Example of a WWI era Board Advertisement display before treatment (left) and after treatment (right).

A recent question, received from one of our readers, involves how to deal with damaged die cut billboard advertisement displays. The reader described their display piece as being water damaged with warping in the board and large losses in the corners. They asked:

"Is it better to remove the printed paper from the damaged board? What is the best way to go about stabilizing it? Can the water damage and the missing corners be fixed?"

Example of die cut ad display with unique shape circa 1930. Image courtesy of SportsAntiques.com

Die cut ad displays are a common form of ephemera we see all the time. These items were printed on a facing paper which was adhered overall to a board (generally poor quality). Often, they were die cut in a unique shape suitable to be propped up near the product to be used as a promotional tool such as the example directly above of a Bradley Sweaters Ad circa 1930.

Because the boards were generally of a poor quality, these items are very susceptible to damage such as staining and warping due to water damage, and losses and tears throughout the board and facing paper, which you can see present in the example below.

Example of water damaged board with staining, warping, tears, losses, and separations in paper from board.

Although the treatment of items like these can be difficult and time consuming, it is possible for them to be stabilized and restored to much of their previous glory. To answer the question of how this is done, we'll separate the question into two issues: Stabilizing the item and filling any losses.

To stabilize the item, we don't suggest taking the paper off the board, like we would for regular items which have been mounted to board due to previous poor framing techniques. In die cut ads like this, the board is a necessary part of the character of the piece. Although I am not a professional appraiser, I would also imagine it would take away from the item's monetary value. Instead we suggest leaving the board item intact and focusing the treatment on only the areas of damage.

We would suggest stabilizing the item by a series of treatments starting off with general surface cleaning. We would then attempt to re-adhere the separating paper and board layers using archival wheat starch paste. If possible, we would also attempt to reduce the dark linear staining due to water damage locally, meaning focused in the areas of damage. Due to the nature of the board, the treatment for reducing disfiguring staining is very limited on items like this, although we've had much success in substantially reducing them. We would then try to flatten the board overall to reduce the warping.

Example of die cut ad with large fragment and losses in lower left corner of board.

To answer the next question, it is possible to repair the board and fill any missing areas. In steps similar to re-adhering areas of separating paper and board issues, we would reattach any sections which have broken off by reattaching the fragment to the board with plies of Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste, possibly also using a cellulose powder.

Photos mounted to board are also a good candidate for this kind of treatment like these examples of before and after treatment images of this turn of the century sports photo.

Losses can be filled using a matching antique board. We have a large collection of antique board and papers in our lab which can be used to match to the original board and facing paper by weight, thickness and texture. When we find a matching board and facing paper, they will be adhered together, and then cut and shaped to fit the missing area. The board fill will be placed as seamlessly as possible into the missing area using the same techniques we used for repairing fragments. Fills can then be inpainted to blend in with the surrounding area.

Items like these, although very challenging can be some of the most rewarding treatments because they often yield stunning results as you can see in the before and after treatment pictures above. Click here to see more exciting before and after treatment images from our various projects!
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If you have any questions you'd like to be featured in our Ask the Conservator series, please email us with "Ask the Conservator" in the subject line.

An Honest Sell

2009-05-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

We're celebrating the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth with new postcards featuring the man himself. These before and after images show drawings of Lincoln by the Louis Tiffany studios used for planning the stained glass windows for the Levere Memorial Temple on the Northwestern University Campus. Click here for more images from the collection of 68 drawings as well as treatment information on preserving these beautiful drawings for future generations.

Visit our website for more information on our company.

Saving Tiffany: The Challenge of Restoring A Collection of Tiffany Studio Sketches

2009-04-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

In April of 2004, a box of tightly rolled drawings, covered with layers of dust and dirt were delivered to our lab. The bottom of the filthy box was teeming with numerous fragments from who knows how many rolls. The drawings were so brittle, they couldn't be unrolled without causing severe damage. They were so messy, severely damaged and so incredibly delicate, we couldn't help wondering "can these things even be saved"?

The original box (on left) of rolled drawings

The answer had to be yes, because this beat up cardboard box contained original hand drawn designs for a one of the last series of stained glass windows produced by the Louis Tiffany Studios, before they closed their doors in 1932. These windows are the focal point of the Peace Chapel in the Levere Memorial Temple, which stands as the headquarters of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation, the largest collegiate fraternity. This grimy box of drawings complete with the original Tiffany label still attached was finally dug out of the Sigma archives where it had been stored since the Temple's construction in 1930. It was clear, these items were in desperate need of repair.

Back of one drawing unrolled as much as possible and weighted down. Tears and old tape are visible above.

Because we could not attempt unrolling them without causing damage, we were unable to perform our customary examination or treatment proposal. Our initial reports had to be made based solely on what could be examined from the exterior of the rolls, which itself was far from promising. In addition to the extensive surface dirt and brittleness, the drawings contained large tears running the width of the rolls, horizontally as well as vertically. Some old repairs had been made with a variety of poor quality tapes only adding to the overall damage and fragile state of the cartoons. We couldn't even begin to guess which drawings the hundreds of fragments matched up with. It was apparent the items would need an initial first stage of treatment before they could even be assessed.

First, we needed to gently humidify the paper in order to carefully unroll and lightly flatten the drawings to determine further treatment options. The drawings were still so dirty, they needed to have the surface dirt reduced in a series of dry cleaning treatments before they could be digitally photographed for an inventory. There were so many paper fragments, we were still unable to come up with an exact number of cartoons at the end of stage one.

A conservator surface cleaning with a dry cleaning sponge.

It was necessary for us to examine and test the brittle cartoons to determine the second stage of treatment. Wet treatments would strengthen the paper, but presented too much risk to the delicate painted colors which tested sensitive and soluble to water. To complicate matters, areas of this delicate paint were also beginning to crack and flake which was further aggravated by even light handling.

This detail of an angel drawing (full image before treatment on right) demonstrates the flaking media.

The original artists had also applied many layers of paper collage elements to the paper using very liberal amounts of what appeared to be animal hide glue. The glued collage elements were creating a pull on the paper, causing further stress and leading to tears and losses in the brittle wood pulp paper, a poor quality material to begin with which was used mainly for sketching. Originally, these drawings were only made as reference materials, with no intention of permanence.

Even the light handling of these delicate items for examination created further damage. From every direction we were faced with serious obstacles. We knew the treatment was necessary as well as nightmarish. Did we stop when presented with a challenge of this magnitude. NO!!! The gauntlet had been laid. We were itching to move forward just needing the go ahead from the client.

Drawings awaiting funding to complete stage 2 of treatment.

The project was in need of donations from members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon to move forward. To help energize fund raising efforts, we chose a single cartoon to put through the full treatments we had proposed for the group and document the process in detail. The cartoon selected for this treatment was the very iconic image of everyone's favorite president, Abraham Lincoln!

The two images on the left show the before images with the after image on the right.

The Abraham Lincoln drawing was further cleaned and all old repairs were removed. Tears were painstakingly repaired using Japanese tissue and starch paste adhesive. Losses in the paper were filled with a heavy weight Japanese tissue. The cartoon was again placed into a humidity chamber to relax before being gently flattened between wool felts. Design losses were inpainted by hand to match the surrounding areas. The Lincoln cartoon was matted with 100% buffered rag board and placed behind UV filtering plexi glass in preparation for being placed into a frame for display.

Media losses on the Lincoln drawing being filled with removable media.

The results were absolutely stunning. Over the next two years, the foundation was able to raise tens of thousands of dollars thanks in part to the persuasive efforts of Honest Abe on generous benefactors. The treatment for the remaining 68 cartoons was completed by the end of 2006.

After treatment of drawing of Vikings.

Back in 2004, when the many rolls of severely damaged paper arrived at our facility, it was unclear if the items could even be saved. It was miraculous and rewarding to see the project go from conception to completion These cartoons are now preserved to aid future generations in gaining a key insight into the execution of this wonderful and important collection of Tiffany stained glass windows.

Fund the Trust, Frank Lloyd Wright Needs Your Help

2009-03-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows conservation is awesome! That's why we were happy to host a tour for the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust this past week. The tour, designed to energize volunteers and members, was given in an effort to kick-off the fund raising efforts for a final group of Frank Lloyd Wright prints. We love our jobs here at Graphic Conservation, so you don't have to ask us twice to spend an hour or two talking about it! We showed our guests around to the different areas of the lab, and enjoyed totally nerding out on all kinds of conservation terms and processes. Of course, no tour is complete without a brief demo and a few before and after treatment examples.

The fund raising efforts are going toward a final group of 17 plates for the FLW Preservation Trust's edition of the Wasmuth Portfolio, which is one of the few complete sets in existence. The publication of Frank Lloyd Wright's 1910 Wasmuth Portfolio, consisting of 100 plates featuring his plans and perspective of buildings from 1893-1909, gave the world it's first view of his dynamic and world changing style. Because of the beauty and desirability of these plates, many portfolios have been dismantled and sold for parts. Both the rarity and the historical importance of this complete portfolio make it one of the prizes of the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust's collection.

As many other foundations dependent on donations to fund conservation have done when dealing with huge projects, the Trust opted to break the plates up into groups allowing them to be treated incrementally over a number of years. We've been working on the conservation and preservation of these plates for over a decade and you can imagine how excited we are to have this project almost completed. The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust hope to fund this project completely by private donations. If you would like to take part in this project, please feel free to contribute today!

Interested in more information on the Wasmuth Portfolio? Check out the University of Utah's full online catalog of each plate. These look like they could use a little help from us!

Jump Start Your Spring Cleaning!

2009-02-26T08:51:00.001-08:00

The winter of our discontent is almost over and spring will be here soon!

To celebrate the better days ahead, Graphic Conservation wants to help kick start your spring cleaning. For a limited time only, we're offering a free storage mat an/or encapsulation package with any approved conservation treatment.

So stop feeling guilty about the rolled up artwork under the bed, and bring it in to get freshened up and placed in a safe archival storage mat for free.

Contact us for more information!

Treatment is complete, now what?

2009-01-23T15:31:00.000-08:00

So much of the artwork we treat here has been damaged by improper materials used for framing or from poor storage choices. Because works of art on paper are extremely vulnerable to damage, the methods and materials we choose are selected carefully to promote the safety and longevity of the piece.

After conservation treatments, to ensure that the time and cost were well spent, we need to consider what the future of the art is. Will it be hung on a wall? Stored in a safe place? Or is this something meant to be viewed and handled a lot? We have various finishing options for your art that are in stride with the guidelines of the American Institute for Conservation.

Let's say that after conservation treatments that antique document of yours is probably going to be looked at quite a bit, but you're not sure if you want to have it framed, let alone figuring out just where to put it.

For something like this, we would recommend a storage mat. This will safely house the document, as well as allow for it to be handled without touching the actual object. A storage mat is a great option for long term storage if you choose not to frame the artwork. Although, if you do choose to frame it, the protective cover can be flipped to the back, providing an extra layer of archival backing.

To place artwork into a storage mat, made of 100% rag board, we would use a hinging method that is appropriate for the piece; utilizing archival materials such as Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste. In some cases, mylar corners will work best for the art. The facing mat is an important component to the storage mat, not only for being the "window" surrounding the the front of the art, but because it protects the artwork from having direct contact with the glazing material [such as plexi-glas or glass].

Another option is to have the artwork encapsulated. Encapsulation is a process in which the artwork is placed between 2 sheets of mylar, an inert plastic product, and ultrasonically welded at its edges to prevent the contact with dirt, dust, etc. Unlike lamination which is virtually impossible to reverse, encapsulated artwork is actually floating between the 2 sheets of mylar, and at any time can be reversed. The mylar can be cut at one of its edges and the artwork simply slipped out.

Encapsulation is a sound option for something like a newspaper which is delicate to begin with, but if the newspaper has fragments or is an object that will be handled a lot, the encapsulation will allow for such. This process works well for items of a double sided nature where information on both the front and back needs to be seen.

Our museum quality matting and encapsulation options have lots of variables to meet your finishing requirements. However basic or seemingly complicated those needs are, Graphic Conservation will make the best choice for the artwork.

Original Order Forms Found Hidden Under Hood, Important in Classic Car Appraisal

2008-12-10T07:13:00.000-08:00

People always ask about the strangest items we've treated. The story of two horribly damaged classic car order forms always come to mind because of the odd nature of their condition and the miraculous transformation achieved during their treatment.

Original order forms for 1967 Corvette convertible on left and 1971 Corvette coup on right.

A private client who collects vintage Corvettes was interested in conserving two original order forms for cars he had recently purchased. The paperwork for each car had been badly handled and poorly stored. In fact, the document on the left had been found hidden within the car mechanics, where it suffered greatly from exposure to exhaust and oil residue. Both documents were so severely dessicated and brittle, they couldn't be handled without causing more fragments from breaking off.

"Original paperwork is extremely important, as it can establish how the car was ordered new, where the car was originally sold, and how the car was originally equipped. These are absolutely critical components to determining the provenance and value of a vintage Corvette." -Steve Davis, President of Barrett-Jackson Auctions, from VetteWeb.com

Due to the importance of these documents to their respective cars, our client was very eager for the stabilization of the documents which would allow for the safe viewing and handling of the information which was currently obscured by all the damage.

We started by tackling the '67 convertible paperwork to attempt the reduction of the heavy dirt layer and extensive staining due to residual grease and oil present overall.

Our aqueous tests were initially unsuccessful due to the amount of grease and oil present in the document. The picture above shows how the grease and oil are preventing the absorption of water into the paper which is necessary to stabilize the fibers.

Through a series of organic solvent tests, we were able to come up with a solution which would act as a type of degreaser. With the delicate application of the solution to the item with a pipette on a suction table, we were able to greatly reduce the dark staining from the oil and exhaust residue.

After the solvent treatments, we were then able to further reduce the exhaust residue and other surface dirt through various dry cleaning methods including the use of a dry cleaning sponge as demonstrated above and below.

At this point, we could begin treating the documents in tandem. The convertible document needed to be dry cleaned delicately because the brittle paper was prone to further tearing and fragmentation (above).

The large amount of overall damage to the documents required an overall lining to a Japanese tissue using wheat starch paste to repair tears, reinforce creases and stabilize the weak fibers of the paper.

The small fragments were then hand placed with tweezers, and paper losses were filled using a matching liquid paper pulp to give a seamless appearance to the documents. The documents were then placed in a press to flatten between wool felts. Once flattened, the paper losses filled with liquid paper pulp were toned using colored pencils and watercolor to match the surrounding paper. The documents were now fully stabilized and complete.

Before and after images of the original order form of a 1971 Corvette convertible

Before and after images of the original order form of a 1967 Corvette coup.

The results speak for themselves. The documents are now much stronger and can be handled safely ensuring the access to their important information as proof of provenance for these valuable classic cars.

Check out other before and after treatment images from our many other projects!

Change You Don't Want: Keeping Your Obama Newspaper From Disintegrating

2008-11-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

Obama Newspaper Front Pages Mosaic made of 477 different Newspapers
from around the world. Uploaded by Flickr User Lumis. Click here to zoom
in and see each page.

History was made last week in Chicago as our senator was announced the first African American President of the United States. The next day, people queued up in front of newspaper vendors worldwide hoping to get their own piece of history.

Change posted by Flickr user Michelle's House

Here in Chicago, lines outside of the Tribune Building on Michigan Ave went around the block as thousands of papers were distributed to the clamoring public. Over the past week, we've received many inquiries as to the proper method for preserving these newspapers from deteriorating over time.

Newspaper, due to the wood pulp content of the paper, naturally becomes acidic over time which can cause the fibers to become brittle as well as a yellowish staining to the paper overall. While we can't stop this from happening, we can slow down the process. Here are a few tips we hope will help.

Store your newspaper flat. This will protect the fibers at the central horizontal crease from weakening which can result in tears and losses.
Protect your newspaper in acid free archival materials to protect it from absorbing additional acids from poor quality paper and cardboard.
Provide a rigid support to keep your newspaper from becoming bent or torn during storage and handling.

To save you time, here's a list of the most affordable quality products appropriate for the preservation of your newspaper.

Newspaper Folder available from Archival Products

Available from Archival Products for only $12.37!

This is the best quality and most affordable folder we found which matches all our necessary criteria at a. Priced at $12.37, the folder is made of boards thick enough to provide a rigid environment and are of a high quality acid free buffered with an alkaline reserve pH of 8.5 which will provide a safe long term acid free environment for your newspaper storage. The folder has a clear sleeve made of acid free Melinex sewn into the folder which gives further stabilization to the newspaper and allows for the safe viewing of both sides of the newspaper without handling.

Acid Free Tissue Interleaving available from
Gaylord Archival Products

tissue pack of 25 sheets available from Gaylord Archival Products for $29.05

We also recommend interleaving the pages of the newspaper with acid free tissue or paper. A 25 sheet pack of buffered archival tissue is available from Gaylord Archival Products for $29.05. The 30" x 40" sheets can be cut down to custom fit the pages of your newspaper.

If you don't wish to interleave the whole paper, it is advisable to at least interleave the front page, which is generally considered the most important. You can go to an art supply store and ask for a sheet of acid free paper which is large enough for your newspaper. Sheets of acid free paper are also available from Papersource.com.

The Big Book Oversize Scrapbook available from
Light Impressions

Scrapbook available from Light Impressions for $52.95

If you wish to go the full ten yards, oversize Scrapbooks are available from Light Impressions which will allow you to fully display each page of your newspaper, along with other affiliated memorabilia. Acid free clear polyester page covers are available to protect the newspaper once hinged to the page and you can even have your scrap book personalized with printed text for only a couple more dollars!

These options, we hope will help you look toward the future to preserve the past. The goal is to keep you paper looking like this:

Rare Dewey Newspaper posted by Rag Linen and Rare Newspapers

and not like this:

Woodford County Journal, 2004 posted by Flickr user Mcbeth.

The Enemies of Paper

2008-09-24T14:54:00.000-07:00

Our frequently asked questions are often in regards to the proper methods for storing artwork on paper. It is not uncommon for us to encounter art which is darkly stained and brittle from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Art may appear very wavy and wrinkled or may even be darkly stained and covered with mold due to unknown water damage from being stacked away in the basement. The best ways to avoid damage is to safely store your items in the proper means using quality archival materials which will add and not subtract years to your artworks life expectancy.

In order to know what is good for your artwork, we first need to investigate what is BAD for your artwork.

What are the Enemies of Paper?

One of the most important things to keep in mind when dealing with your documents or works of art on paper, is that paper itself is an intrinsically delicate material and very susceptible to certain kinds of damage. It is the natural course for all things to deteriorate and break down over time. The most common ways in which paper can be broken down are:

the absorption of acids
exposure to harmful UV light rays
improper exposure to areas of fluctuating humidity

Acid is BAD
Through the natural process of degradation, paper absorbs acid from its environment which over time can contribute to weakening the fibers. The most noticeable way in which this damage becomes visible to us is by a yellowish staining as well as a brittle feel in the fibers which can cause tears and losses in the paper.

Above shows the back of a print which was framed with a wooden backing board for many years. Over time, acids migrated into the paper from the wooden backing board, severely damaging the paper fibers and causing dark disfiguring stains. Notice the stain patterns mimic the knots in the wood.

When paper has contact with materials high in acid content like wood, it can absorb acids through the process of acid migration. It can also absorb acids from chemically unstable materials like plastics as well as from pollutants in the air. As this is a natural process, we cannot totally stop it, but we can retard its progress by keeping harmful materials away from the artwork with the use of safe archival storage and archival framing materials.

UV Light Rays are Bad
As we all know after a long day out in the sun, UV light rays can be very harmful to our skin, as we ache from the pinkish burns all over our bodies. Paper fibers can be affected by harmful UV rays in a similar manner, and after long hours of direct exposure, fibers can begin to break down, showing a "burn" which can appear as a yellowish stain. Besides UV in natural sun light, UV light rays are also emitted by fluorescent and metal halogen lamps. It is best to limit the direct exposure to all of these light sources to protect your artwork from UV damage.

Although more energy efficient, fluorescent light bulbs, like the one on the left, emit more UV rays then the incandescent light bulb on right.

General exposure to light can also cause fading to the media of your artwork over time. Different media such as watercolors, lithographic prints and documents with ink pen notation among others are very susceptible to fading from light exposure.

Fluctuations in Humidity are Bad

Paper naturally absorbs and emits moisture from the surrounding air causing fibers to expand and contract. With high fluctuations in humidity, the paper's moisture content can fluctuate at a high rate causing such damage as cockling and buckling, and over time can undermine the structural integrity of the fibers, leading to damage.

Besides fluctuations in humidity, paper exposed to environments of high humidity for extended periods of time can create a prime environment for mold growth. Once mold spores have permeated into the web of the paper fibers, it is incredibly difficult to remove. Mold can also cause disfiguring staining which can be difficult and sometimes impossible to completely reduce during treatment.

Moldy Book Page Image originally uploaded by Flickr user Eric Carl

To protect your artwork, avoid storing or hanging artwork in areas of high humidity and moisture like in basements and bathrooms. You want to avoid storage in attics due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Try to avoid hanging artwork on exterior walls and above fireplaces.

Now we know what the main enemies of paper are, how should art be stored?

Proper Art Storage Methods
A cool dry dark area is best, to protect the item from exposure to harmful light rays, and from fluctuations of temperature and humidity. A cool dry environment of a relative humidity (RH) around 50 percent is preferable. (Please note: 50% RH humidity is a general recommendation. Certain objects may require different humidity and storage conditions.) To further control the humidity, de-humidifiers may be necessary in warmer months to maintain a stable and constant RH. To properly store your artwork, wrap with archival tissues or place in archival folders made of stable pH neutral polyester folders to protect from dust and during handling.

Selection of Archival boxes available from Gaylord Archival Products

Artwork and other documents on paper should always be stored flat in a rigid environment. Rolled storage should be avoided all together. Items with delicate surfaces or 3 dimensional aspects can be safely stored in archival boxes which come in many different shapes and sizes.

For more resources of archival products visit these websites:
Light Impressions
Gaylord Archival Products
Tallas
Archival Products
University Products

More resources for archival concerns can be found on our website.

Rare Civil War Era Map Discovered

2008-09-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

While searching through a stack of rolled blue prints in the Will County Historical Society vault, archivists stumbled upon two original Will Coutny plat maps dating from 1862. Believed to be the oldest county map in existence, the discovery came as a shock and a welcome surprise. The map, although suffering much deterioration through the years, was identified immediately as a “hidden jewel” which, with a bit of conservation work, is to become the signature piece of the society’s collection.

Before treatment (left) and after treatment (right) images of the 1862 Will County Plat map

The maps were unearthed during a recent collections assesement. Lynne Smaczny, Executive Director of the Historical Society, comments that this inventory is long overdue. “We really don’t know of everything we have.” because her predecessors kept a more hands off attitude toward the counties archive collections. The maps having been left rolled and forgotten for so long were in serious stages of disrepair. Lynne, knowing the importance of these maps acted immediately to begin the process of restoration.

Having worked with Graphic Conservation in the past, on a project for the Des Planes History Center, Lynne contacted us directly to examine the maps and come up with a plan for restoration. While both maps suffered from severe surface dirt, desiccation and fragmentation, the first map was determined to be in better condition. However, it was also missing 4” of media area along the entire upper edge. The second map, although in much worse condition overall, contained the upper edge areas missing to the first. Conservation efforts have been targeted toward restoring and stabilizing the “home map” -the map in better condition while harvesting sections from the second “donor map” to be used to fill the losses of the first.

In order to stabilize the maps, many steps were necessary before they could be merged together. First, working with the home map and the sections of the donor map to be used as fills, the superficial surface dirt was reduced using various dry cleaning techniques. We then removed the varnish covering the surface of the maps using organic solvents.

Conservators, Sharon Paschke (left) and Laura Moeller (right)
remove varnish from map fragments to be used as fills.

The brittle map had broken into hundreds of fragments, which were only being held together by a deteriorating linen backing. We gingerly removed the backing through a series of aqueous treatments, while keeping all the fragments together in a cohesive order. We replaced the old linen with modern archival Japanese tissue to stabilize the fragments.

Conservator, Christina Marusich, uses a mylar template to
prepare fills from a large fragment from the second "donor"
map to be used as fills on the home map.

At this point, “The treatment became something similar to a jigsaw puzzle as we attempted to match up the sections from the two maps to form a cohesive whole” says head conservator, Christina Marusich. Using custom made mylar templates, the donor map fragments were painstakingly trimmed and hand placed to form a near seamless fit. The smaller loses which could not be filled with donor fragments, were filled using a matching liquid paper pulp. With the fills now in place, the map was placed in our oversize press to flatten.

Matching fiber colors for liquid paper pulp to be used in smaller fills.

Upon the maps removal from the press, a week later, a complete view of Will County circa 1862 can now be viewed and enjoyed. With this project, “We had the unique opportunity to use original media to fill losses which makes it even more exciting to see the piece come together as a whole” says conservator Sharon Paschke. “It is truly gratifying to know we are helping a community piece its past together with each part of the map we fill in.”

The discovery of this map could not have come at a more perfect time. The Will County Historical Society in years past has put much focus on its work preserving the history of I&M canal. The history of this historic landmark, once the main route connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi river, establishing Chicago as the transportation hub of the nation, has always overshadowed that of the origins of the county as a whole. The map has helped the Historical Society regain focus toward highlighting the history of the county as a whole starting with more inclusive programming for outlaying townships and has been the impetus for a new upcoming exhibit “Will County Origins”. The exhibit will display a comprehensive history on the pioneer settlement era of the county’s history, from the days of the Native Americans into the 1870’s. The restored 1862 map will act as the centerpiece and backbone for the exhibit, tying the individual township displays together.

Conservators from left, Laura Moeller, Andrea Newberry and
Sharon Paschke with completed framed 1862 Will County Map.

To prepare the map for exhibit we had a deadline of the first week in February, which has given us only a few short weeks to complete the conservation. We knew the treatment would be time consuming and tricky not only due to the poor condition of the maps but because of the oversize nature of the items as well. We were definitely up to the challenge. Utilizing our full service lab and all members of our staff, we are specially equipped to handle oversize items even larger then this 4’ x 5’ wall map. When all said and done, we labored for over five weeks to prepare the map for its debut at the opening of “Will Count Origins”. The show opened February 15, and will run through May of 2009. You can view the 1862 Will County platt map at the Will County Historical Society in Lockport, IL.

William Crusius: In Memorium

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William Crusius, R. R. Donnelley Staff Portrait

William Paul Crusius, cofounder of Graphic Conservation was an active member of the book and paper community for over 50 years. He passed away December 20, 2006 of cancer and has been greatly missed.

Born August 31, 1927 in Chicago to Rev. Carl and Helen Crusius , Bill grew up near Fullerton and Racine spending summers on Long Island, staying with his paternal grandparents. He attended Lane Tech Academy in Chicago often regaling us of tales of swimming classes in the nude, to shock us into laughter.

Upon graduating from Lane Tech, Bill first found work as a draftsman. As the story goes, one day his boss made him so mad he felt he couldn’t take it anymore. He walked over, gave his boss a good kick in the seat of his pants and went home. Bill, obviously needing new employment, was referred to apply to R. R. Donnelley as an apprentice through his brother who worked there as a draftsman before he left for W.W.II. Bill assumed he would be working as a draftsman as well, however, he was instead assigned as an apprentice in the Extra Bindery. Bill always claimed it was out of sheer chance, but whether chance or foresight on the part of his early overseers, Bill was placed in an environment where he could shine.

Bill Making paper at R. R. Donnelley

Learning the dual crafts of Master bookbinding as well as book and paper conservation, Bill quickly showed great aptitude. Over the course of his 33 years at R. R. Donnelley, Bill rose to the head of his department, and when the Extra Bindery was closed in 1982, Bill, along with his coworker Robert Wienberg, bought out the department to start Graphic Conservation, where he continued to work until his death in 2006.

Bill inpainting a document at Graphic Conservation

A specialist in the conservation of works of art on paper, Bill was elected a Fellow of the AIC in 1982. Bill was highly dedicated to his many clients, many of which lasted over a period of 25 years. He was also committed and instrumental in the training of future generations of paper conservators who now work all over the country. Of all who worked with Bill, we knew him to be kind, generous, detail oriented, patriotic and lover of puns.

I came to know Bill during our time together here at Graphic Conservation. On any given day, Bill could be seen sauntering into the lab in his typical loafers, black jeans, and short sleeved button down shirt smelling of the pipe tobacco he had smoked on his morning commute to work. His was famous for his crossword prowess at the break table as well as being an aficionado of spicy foods. Bill was most particular in his demands of a good salsa which he said the best resided at La Pasada near Ashland and Division. It was here he spent his daily lunch hour, and the staff there came to know him so well, he never needed to speak his order. Upon sitting down at the counter, Bill would wave to the the waitress who knew one finger pointed on each hand indicated an order of a chicken and steak taco, and two fingers on the same hand asked for two chicken tacos only. It never needed to be added he would be washing it all down with a can of coke which always appeared with his complimentary bowl of chips and sides of salsa verde.

Bill with the remnants of his daily lunch at his favorite
Taco spot, De Pasada.

In addition to enjoying his work as a conservator, Bill was happily married for 55 years to his dear wife Jane. He was dedicated to his family, and together, they raised their four loving children, nine grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. An avid fisherman, Bill spent his summer vacations in Green Lake, Wisconsin every year trolling for the illusive pike and walleye. He was also a skilled gardener, wood carver and a 50 year Bears season ticket holder.

Bill looking out over his home town from the Sears Tower

My last day working with Bill, I remember he looked over to me and said, “Well, Kiddo, its been a ride.” Yes, Bill, it certainly was. For all that you taught us and all you brought to our lives, you will be fondly remembered and so greatly missed.

Our History

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1974 Donnelley Extra Bindery Staff, William Crusius third
from right, Robert Weinberg third from left.

As so often happens in life, when one door closes another door opens. In 1982, William Crusius faced this exact situation. Bill had recently been told by his bosses at R.R. Donnelley that they were closing the Extra Bindery department in which he had worked as a master book binder and book conservator for over 33 years. The Extra Bindery was a boutique department of sorts R. R. Donnelley staffed as a corporate perk for special clients. When Queen Elizabeth came it Chicago in 1957, the company had Bill prepare a special leather bound book with gold tooling specially for Her Majesty. However, modern times demanded more streamline operations, and departments like the Extra Bindery were no longer considered necessary or profitable. With the closing of the department, Bill and his colleague, Robert Weinberg were left wondering what next.

Bob (left) and Bill (right) working on oversize globe.

Bill and Bob understood book and paper conservation was a specialization of theirs they could market to form a business. As the bindery was closing down, Bill and Bob financed the purchase of all their old equipment and moved shop from their previous residence to a new location which would be the site of their new business. Thus, Graphic Conservation was born.

From the beginning Bill and Bob were committed to the highest quality museum standard conservation.With our international client base, Graphic Conservation has since been delivering world class services ranking us as one of the premier Book and Paper Conservation firms in the country.

1995 Graphic team members clockwise from left, Sharon Paschke,
Margo Powell, Christina Marusich, William Crusius, Robert Weinberg.

There have been many changes throughout the years. Bob retired many years ago, and Bill sadly passed away in 2006. Christina Marusich and Sharon Pascke now lead our team of conservators, and through all these changes, we remain proudly determined to continue precedent of quality and care set by our founders over 26 years ago.

Graphic Conservation Company

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To become a true expert in your field, you must focus solely on that practice. That's why at Graphic Conservation, we specialize only in full-service paper conservation. Our aim is to arrest deterioration, repair damage, and stabilize the paper object for future generations to enjoy.

We pride ourselves on using the latest techniques in paper conservation, but we are not just technicians. We apply the craftsmanship of the artist, the knowledge of the scientist, and the concern of the historian.

Perhaps most importantly, we do not take the conservation process too far. We show an uncommon sensitivity to these priceless objects, to preserve the history and character of each piece.

We Provide

Complete, museum-quality conservation and preservation of all works of art on paper.
Consultation services and expert evaluations of fine art collections and claims nationwide.
Consultation on the display, handling and storage of works of art on paper.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding the treatment of a work of art on paper.