AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

A Medley of Map Treatments

As a busy regional lab specializing in paper, CCAHA paper conservators deal with a wide range of maps from a variety of clients. This talk will describe several recent innovative treatments addressing specific issues in maps that may have wider application to solve other challenging problems.

Case Study 1: A brittle and fragmented hand-drawn map lined on fabric, 1872. This map needed backing removal, washing, and relining, but the media was too soluble for normal washing and lining, while the paper was too fragmented to risk backing removal without immediate stabilization. The map was placed face-down, dry, on the suction table and the backing was removed mechanically, while the suction held the fragments in alignment. It was then lined with strips of a 5 gsm tengujo tissue pre-coated with Jin Shofu wheat starch paste, activated with a light mist. Once lined, the map could be handled safely to be placed face up to be washed on the suction table so that the soluble media could be monitored at all times. Significant discoloration reduction and physical stabilization was achieved without displacing the many loose fragments or affecting the media.

Case Study 2: Multiple 6 x 8 foot hand drawn maps, 1896. Seventy-one hand-drawn survey maps on single sheets of heavy, machine-made paper were lined on fabric and stored on rolls. Due to their size, the client requested stabilization and digitization, but they needed to remain on their (mostly intact) fabric linings and return to their rolled storage. The major issue was severe horizontal tenting that could not be addressed by standard washing, relining, and flattening. CCAHA conservators tested and perfected a system of local repairs to hold the tents flat to allow imaging capture of the information and prevent the ongoing cracking.

Case Study 3: Oversized varnished maps. The ongoing conversation on varnished maps has brought together conservators from across the country to share different approaches to remediating discolored varnish. Solvent removal of discolored varnish remains a common approach, however, this carries inherent health risks to the conservators. CCAHA has developed an easy, low-cost system to convert our fume hood into a “fume room” to keep staff safe when solvent treatments are too large to fit inside the fume hood. As time allows, I may include other tips on washing and relining fragmented cloth mounted wall maps.