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In the News

Graphic Conservation has been featured in a variety of news media. Please follow the links below to read more about our company’s projects.

In Tribute

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the recent passing of our dear friend and colleague Sharon Paschke. 
Sharon was the daughter of artists Ed and Nancy Paschke.  Through the love of the arts and Chicago’s wonderful art community, she found her calling in conservation.
Like the glow of the light that shines through a delicate sheet of paper, may Sharon’s memory glow on forever. 

Rest in Peace

 

Now Offering Digitization Services!

What Are Digitization Services?

As a complement to our conservation services, Graphic Conservation Company now offers digitization services. Excellent candidates for digital reformatting include historic documents, books, and photo albums. The digitized reproduction allows you to share or display your precious item while properly storing the original. We can also provide fully searchable PDF files using optical recognition software.

How We Do It: Touchless Scanner

We use imaging equipment that minimizes handling and excessive light-exposure to avoid wear and the potential for damage. We do not use equipment that employs automated handling such as sheet-fed scanners or automated page turners. We also employ equipment that will capture the highest resolution to create a quality facsimile that will replicate even the smallest detail.

Examples of Projects

Graphic Conservation Company specializes in digitizing unusual and difficult to handle, fragile documents and books. No project is too big or too small for our scanning capabilities. Some examples of items we digitize include:

Bound Materials

· Scrapbooks

· Illuminated Manuscripts

· Rare Books

· Ledgers, diaries, and record books

Loose Items

· Works of Art on paper

· Prints and photographs

· Archival collections

· Two-dimension textiles, such as samplers

Oversize Materials

· Maps

· Blueprints

· Design Drawings

· Scrolls

· Wallpaper

Historical Memorabilia

If you have fragile historic memorabilia, we can create a high quality reproduction for you to handle and enjoy, while safely storing away the original.

Photo Albums

We can scan entire photo albums, even if they are in pieces. We will scan all the loose documents tucked between the pages in sequence with the rest of the album. We can even recreate a facsimile of the album or provide you with a digital Dropbox to share with multiple generations.

Scrapbooks

Scrapbooks often are full of hard to handle, fragile paper items which can be too costly for conservation treatment. Digitization can be the best option to limit handling yet still allowing them to be viewed digitally.

Digital Enhancement & Reproductions

If you have a document with faded inks/stains, it may be a candidate for Digital Enhancement Photography. We can create unique reproductions of the original by using a combination of specific lighting in conjunction with our specialized digital camera and computer aided software editing tools. We can create multiple copies to share with family members as well as different sizes of the original document.

Archival Storage

We can also provide rehousing recommendations as a service while digitizing. As pieces are being scanned, they can then be moved into appropriate preservation storage. Our main objective is to provide long-term preservation for your fragile and historic documents.

To receive a quote on digitization, email inquiries to info@graphicconservation.com.

The Vintage Home Show at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple

Come visit us Saturday April 9

1pm – 5pm

Attend seminars, visit vendor booths, and ask experts about their home renovation questions, as well as enjoy self-guided tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Proceeds from the event benefit UTRF’s mission to preserve Unity Temple and educate the public about the significance of Frank Lloyd Wright’s contribution to modern architecture. $15 General Admission

The Vintage Home Show

 

Preservation, Paper & Paschke

We are excited to be a part of the Design Museum of Chicago’s Re:treat, a virtual conference of the arts. The conference begins on 12/5/2020 at 9am and will be available online until 12/13/2020. Tickets are available at  retreatmenice.com, $10 donations are appreciated.

Preservation, Paper & Paschke: An overview of services provided by Graphic Conservation Company for all works of art and documents on paper. And a special inside look at Ed Paschke’s work and source materials and how GCC is assisting in preserving them.

 

Covid-19

Graphic Conservation was temporarily closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All current client items have been safely stored and are currently being reassessed for treatment deadlines. We are accepting new items for evaluation; please call us at (312) 738 – 2657 or email info@graphicconservation.com for any new inquiry.

Shipping

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic we are encouraging all clients to utilize commercial shipping methods to deliver or retrieve any items. Curbside pick up/drop off available upon request. Additionally, once an item is received we will notify you of its arrival and then place it in quarantine for a short period of time prior to examination.

UPS and FedEx: These carriers can provide a cost-effective solution when you cannot visit GCC in person or when a fine arts shipping provider is unnecessary. UPS and FedEx may set limits on the amount of insurance they will provide for certain types of materials including artwork.

FedEx limits each package to 150 lbs. maximum and a combined 165 inches (length + 2 times width + 2 times depth). Maximum length is limited to 119 inches.

UPS limits each package to 150 lbs. maximum and a combined 165 inches (length + 2 times width + 2 times depth). Maximum length is limited to 108 inches.

U.S. Postal Service Registered Mail: The U.S. Postal Service offers cost-effective shipping of artifacts of moderate size and value.  Choose “Registered Mail” shipping — not merely Insured, Certified, or Priority Mail.

Registered Mail limits each package to 70 pounds and a combined 108 inches (length + 2 times width + 2 times depth).

Fine Arts Shippers: These companies offer door-to-door trucking with special handling for valuable or irreplaceable objects, and most offer packing and crating services. Fine arts shippers are very reliable and usually expensive. Companies can be found through a web browser search, the yellow pages, or a recommendation from your local art museum.

Visiting

All visiting clients must have a scheduled appointment. Please call us at (312) 738 – 2657 to discuss your project and goals prior to coming in. All clients who enter the lab are required to follow the Covid-19 Illinois guidelines.

Tribute to our friend Jim Donnelley.

James+R.+Donnelley

Sadly, we lost Jim Donnelley, a dear friend of Graphic Conservation Company on September 25, 2018. Given our Company’s near century-long history, 62 years of which was as part of the printing giant RR Donnelley (Jim served as Vice-Chairman), we thought it was important to note his passing here. Jim’s friendship, charity, love of life, genuine interest in people, sense of humor, and storytelling ability will all be missed. To say they don’t make them that way anymore is altogether fitting, and is an accurate way to describe Jim’s legacy. Jim, we miss you. Cheers.