TREATMENT PROPOSAL/AUTHORIZATION FOR TREATMENT
TEMPORARY ID # 03-36
Date: 1/21/03
IDENTIFICATION OF ARTIFACT(S)
Owner/Custodian: Center for American History
Address: University of Texas at Austin Sid Richardson Hall
Curator: Brenda Gunn
Telephone: 495-4385
Owner/Custodian Call No.: None
Title/Subject/Description: J. De Cordova’s Map of Texas pocket map
Creator: J. De Cordova
Date of Production: 1851
Place of Production: Houston, TX
Approximate Dimensions (hxw): Case: 15.7cm x 10.7cm 6 3/16” x 4 1/4” (Map to be measured after treatment)
Conservator: Melissa Bradshaw
Authorization The undersigned requests and authorizes PCS/GSLIS University of Texas-Austin, Austin, TX, to undertake conservation treatment of the artifact described in the attached Condition Report according to the procedures outlined in the appended Treatment Proposal. In the event the Owner/Custodian authorizes PCS to proceed with the treatment recommended in the proposal such authorization shall be deemed to include acceptance by the depositor of the terms and conditions appearing in the original Authorization for Examination and Treatment.
Signature of Responsible Officer For Owner/Custodian:
Date: Object/Title/Description: Owner/Custodian:
Original to Owner/Custodian Copy to Preservation and Conservation Studies
2 Object/Title/Description: Owner/Custodian:
TREATMENT PROPOSAL
Treatment Objective: To stabilize document for long-term storage and research.
Description The map of Texas is printed paper and bound in a red leather case to allow convenience in use. This format is known as a pocket map.
Map The map is letterpress printed in black ink on lightweight, machine-made paper. The counties and boundaries have been hand painted in watercolor. There are seven colors—orange, pink, blue, green, yellow, dark orange, and dark pink. The darker shades highlight the state boundaries and the counties are painted in the lighter hues. The map is a detailed view of Texas from approximately Big Bend to westernmost Louisiana, and at the bottom right is a distance view of the entire state of Texas and surrounding areas. A reference to land districts appears at the top left and in the bottom left corner are authentications and signatures of Texas politicians, the Texas state seal, and the seal of the General Land Office. The border of the map is a scale with the degrees of longitude and latitude.
Case The case is embossed with an art nouveau leaf design. “J. DE CORDOVA’S MAP OF TEXAS” is tooled in gold in rectangle at the center of the front cover. There are yellow pastedowns and a bookplate on which is printed “J. P. BRYAN LIBRARY”.
Condition Map The map is attached to the inside back of the case on the center left side of the map. The paper has been folded in thirteenths, causing creases and tears. There are large scarf tears where the map is attached to the case and also at the top right. There are several small tears at the fold lines. Some discoloration appears throughout the map on the recto, especially around the edges. What appears to be foxing is found where the map is attached to the case. On the verso, the soiled areas are more significant and are located on the center horizontal fold lines. Dark pink and gray lines are visible from the ink bleeding through from the recto.
Case The edges of the case are worn, as well as some of the embossed areas, leaving the natural—but dingy—leather color. There is a 3cm tear from the head of the spine down, and the lower half of the spine is cracked and brittle. There is dirt and other residue embedded in the embossed areas. The front of the case shows more wear than the back. The gold tooling on the front remains intact. The pastedowns are soiled and discolored as well, especially around the edges. “60.00”, possibly a cataloger’s mark, has been written in pencil on the inside front cover near the head.
3 Object/Title/Description: Owner/Custodian:
TREATMENT PROPOSAL 1. Separate map from case.
2. Humidify and flatten map.
3. Mend tears.
4. House in folder with case.
Photography
Nikon CoolPix 4500 digital camera
Before Treatment 1/273: Incandescent light—recto, verso 1/273: Raking light—recto, verso
After Treatment 5/1/03: Incandescent light—recto, verso 5/1/03: Raking light—recto, verso
TREATMENT REPORT 1. Separated map from case by application of damp blotter on edge of map adhered to case.
2. Humidified and flattened map in humidity chamber of wet blotter and Gortex. Measurements of map are 89.3cm x 82.8cm, 35 3/16” x 32 5/8”
3. Mended tears and losses with lens tissue and wheat starch paste.
4. Housed in folder of 60-point board with attached compartment of 10-point board for case.
Approximate treatment time: 10.5 hours
Signature of Responsible Student:
Signature of Accepting Faculty Member:
Date:
4 Object/Title/Description: Owner/Custodian:
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alper, Diana. How to Flatten Folded or Rolled Paper Documents. 7/2001 1993. National Park Service, Conserve O Gram 13/4. Available: http://www.archives.state.co.us/cpa/articles/paper/flatten.htm. 5/2 2003. This article is aimed at the layperson for its primary audience, but it is also useful, basic information for conservators when dealing with rolled or folded documents. It cautions the layperson in several instances to consult a paper conservator with any questions, especially with friable or fugitive media. The descriptions and diagrams are easy to follow. Conservators who work in an environment with only minimal equipment would find the methods described in this article practical and convenient.
Glaser, Mary Todd. "Relaxing and Flattening Paper by Humidification." Preservation of Library & Archival Materials: A Manual (1999). This is also an article that addresses simple and straightforward humidification. The same disclaimer is at the beginning - recommending the reader to consult with a professional conservator in the cases of water-soluble media, friable media, parchment humidification, works of great value, or heavily varnished or coated papers. As humidification is an uncomplicated procedure (except in the instances noted above), this article effectively expressed the basic elements necessary to humidify rolled documents and photographs.
Hamm, Patricia Dacus. "A History of the Manufacture of Printing Ink from 1500-1900 with Notes for the Conservator." IPC Conference Papers Manchester 1992. London: Institute of Paper Conservation, 1993. 30-34. As the title states, this article discusses the composition of various inks, both typographic and copper plate, and how their manufacturing processes differ through periods in history. Scanning electron microscope micrographs of ink samples are included. The micrograph of a control ink sample is compared to ink samples that have been exposed to 1.) calcium hydroxide, 2.) acetone, 3.) ethanol, and 4.) deionized water, respectively. Through this study the author is demonstrating the possible effects that conservation treatments can have on printing inks.
Keyes, Keiko Mizushima. "Some Practical Methods for the Treatment with Moisture of Moisture-Sensitive Works on Paper." Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works on Paper. Ottawa: Canadian Conservation Insitute, 1988. 99-107. Moisture-sensitive works on paper can be a challenge for a conservator to treat, since many treatment methods require the use of moisture. The author of this article discusses several potential treatment methods, depending on the artifact's tolerance for moisture. Some of the methods include the following: placing the object on a wet blotter in a tray; gradual moistening through a blotter-Gore-Tex sandwich; a spray-moistened blotter sandwich; an ultrasonic humidifier over a vacuum suction table; and the use of a Lascaux Humidfication Chamber. The description of the procedures is very good with many photos illustrating the steps. A conservator could easily follow the author's instructions to perform his or her own treatments.
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