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Before & After

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  • Family Document Restoration

    Stage 1
    Conserved

    High School Diploma, 1913

    About the Work

    This diploma was brought to us by a client who wanted to preserve an important part of their family’s history. To repair this fragile document, our conservators removed the tape adhering it to board and gently washed it in filtered water. The piece was then lined to Japanese tissue to repair the tears and reinforce the weakened paper. The restored diploma was matted and assembled into a plexi-package so that the client could safely frame and display it.

    • Process

    • Dry Cleaned
    • Lined
    • Packaged in UV-filtering shatterproof Plexiglass
    • Removed Tape and Adhesive Residue
    • Washed with Filtered Water
    Stage 1
    Conserved

    A Letter to Santa, 1930

    About the Work

    Written in 1930, this letter to Santa Claus held great sentimental value to the family of the writer. Our conservators helped this family to preserve the letter for future generations by repairing the tears, strengthening the paper, and deacidifying it to prevent further deterioration. Facsimiles of the letter were also made for each member of the family.

    • Process

    • Created Facsimiles
    • Deacidified
    • Packaged in UV-filtering shatterproof Plexiglass
    • Repaired Tears
    Stage 1
    Conserved

    Marriage License, 1894

    About the Work

    The fragmented and incredibly brittle paper of this marriage license needed a great deal of treatment. After flattening the fragments, our conservators pieced the document back together and lined it. The license was then inpainted to fill areas where ink had been lost.

    • Process

    • Flattened
    • Inpainted Ink Losses
    • Lined
    • Reattached Fragments
    Stage 1
    Conserved

    Vellum Document, 1792

    About the Work

    This document was severely cockled as a result of being stored in a rolled position and being exposed to changes in humidity. The warping of the piece had caused several large tears. Our conservators cleaned the document and humidified it in order to flatten it and consolidate areas of ink that were flaking off. To prepare the document for display, the tears were repaired and the piece was placed into a package of UV-filtering, shatterproof plexiglass.

    • Process

    • Flattened
    • Humidified
    • Packaged in UV-filtering shatterproof Plexiglass
    • Repaired Tears
    Stage 1
    Conserved

    Daughters of the American Revolution Certificate, 1907

    About the Work

    This 1907 Daughters of the American Revolution certificate on vellum was severely distorted with cockling and creasing. The ripples in the material were so extreme that the seal on the upper left of the certificate had begun to come loose from the surface. By humidifying and flattening the piece and reattaching the seal, our conservators restored the certificate to an archival state.

    • Process

    • Dry Cleaned
    • Flattened
    • Humidified
    • Packaged in UV-filtering shatterproof Plexiglass
    • Removed Creases
    Stage 1
    Conserved

    Holocaust Identification Card, 1941 - 1945

    About the Work

    Extremely fragile and damaged, this Holocaust identification card required stabilizing and strengthening to preserve it for posterity. These repairs were achieved by filling the paper losses with toned Japanese tissue. Because the soluble inks on the document precluded any wet treatment, tape, dirt, and staining were removed through dry cleaning processes.

    • Process

    • Dry Cleaned
    • Filled Paper Losses with Japanese Tissue
    • Reduced Stains
    • Removed Tape and Adhesive Residue
    • Repaired Tears
    Stage 1
    Conserved

    Baptism Document, 1915

    About the Work

    This baptism certificate had been folded and torn. Our conservators successfully put the pieces of this document back together again and lined it for extra strength. Careful dry cleaning and flattening of the creases along with inpainting ink losses helped return the document to an archival condition.

    • Process

    • Dry Cleaned
    • Inpainted Ink Losses
    • Lined
    • Reattached Fragments
    • Reduced Creases
    • Repaired Tears
    Stage 1
    Conserved

    Family Tree

    About the Work

    Our conservators treated this family tree by first removing old tape and adhesive residue. They then reduced its stains and repaired its tears, giving the important family document new life for future generations.

    • Process

    • Reduced Stains
    • Removed Tape and Adhesive Residue
    • Repaired Tears
    Stage 1
    Conserved

    Medical Diploma, 1908

    About the Work

    This vellum diploma was cockled and creased by exposure to humidity. Our conservators flattened the hard creases and reduced the adhesive residue along the edges of the piece. They also repaired and reattached the torn paper seal at the bottom of the diploma.

    • Process

    • Flattened
    • Removed Tape and Adhesive Residue
    • Repaired and Reattached Paper Seal
    • Repaired Tears