The New York Academy of Medicine: Initiatives: Division of Information Management: Historical Collections: Conservation

Historical Collections

CONSERVATION & PRESERVATION

The Academy employs two book and paper conservators, Anne Hillam and Erin Albritton, who staff the well-equipped 1,600 square foot Gladys Brooks Book and Paper Conservation Laboratory. They perform a wide variety of treatments for rare materials as well as historical and general collections. Volunteers assist the conservators with various projects according to their level of skill. In 2002, The New York Academy of Medicine was selected as a recipient of the Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections given jointly by the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) and Heritage Preservation.

Gladys Brooks Book and Paper Conservation Internship
The Preservation Department offers a yearly internship for 2–3 months to provide valuable training and hands-on experience working in a functioning conservation laboratory. The internship is offered to those individuals with some experience in book binding or book conservation who wish to further their knowledge in the field. Please note: The next opportunity to apply for a Gladys Brooks Internship will be from October 1 - December 15, 2007. This will be for an internship in 2008. For specific application information, please visit the section on Internship.

Collections Maintenance
The Preservation staff monitor environmental conditions throughout the library and stack areas, and provide sturdy, acid-free storage containers for library materials.

Regional Conservation Activities
Preservation staff are available for consultation on conservation issues; they conduct tours of the laboratory; and they contribute articles to various publications, including Guild of Book Workers' New York Chapter Newsletter. From 1993-97, the conservators taught the course on “Preservation and Conservation of Library Materials” for the City University of New York, Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Science. The lab now serves as the site for numerous New York area workshops sponsored by The Guild of Book Workers.

Preserving a Treasured Tapestry
In an effort to restore a 16th century Flemish tapestry that had been hanging in the Library Reading Room since 1926, the Academy removed this treasure, vacuumed it, and placed it in safe storage in 2003 to await full conservation treatment. The Wild Beast in Leaf Verdure measures 10’ 8” x 16’ 10½” and is in need of extensive repair to be restored to its former brilliance and strength. The tapestry, which was produced in a workshop in Audenarde, Belgium, needs additional dry cleaning, removal of old strapping and deteriorated linings, and wet cleaning.

Links
Other book and paper conservation resources on the Web.

> Contact the Preservation Department

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