AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

An 1898 manuscript map of parts of Puerto Rico, from the Spanish-American War, came to the lab at Harpers Ferry Center from San Juan National Historic Site as part of a group of laminated materials. Its eighteen foot length presented unique challenges for both treatment and safety. The map had been sandwiched on cloth with three layers of cellulose acetate and had already begun to produce a distinct vinegar smell. This talk will briefly cover the variations in delamination treatment on two smaller maps, and how the smaller scale treatments informed the larger treatment. The focus will be on the plan for treatment, materials, set up, method, safety, and lessons learned in the process. The object and treatment were intimidating. By sharing this treatment, the goal is to provide a manageable framework that others might use as a starting point for future projects.