Monday, April 4, 2016
Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin 

This symposium will examine the myriad of challenges faced in preserving a wide variety of non-standard paper items produced in the 19th and 20th centuries, including paper dolls, greeting cards, posters, maps, blueprints, baseball cards, miniature books, scrapbooks, and oversize objects. The size, the use of mixed media, and the often transient nature of these objects add to the complexity of their preservation needs. The symposium will address the need to retain basic preservation guidelines, while creatively developing effective storage, handling, and exhibition strategies and solutions for a variety of items. 

This program is intended for curators, librarians, archivists, collection managers, and others involved in the care of collections that include paper-based objects large and small. 

Speakers Include:

• Dr. Stephen Enniss, Director, Harry Ransom Center of The University of Texas at Austin
   
• Dr. Danielle Brune Sigler, Associate Director for Research and Programs, Harry Ransom Center of The University of Texas at Austin
   
• Kenneth Grant, Exhibition Conservator and Head of Exhibition Services, Harry Ransom Center of The University of Texas at Austin
   
• Joan Irving, Paper Conservator and Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Delaware
   
• Crystal Maitland, Paper Conservator, Canadian Conservation Institute
   
• Olivia Primanis, Chief Book Conservator, Harry Ransom Center of The University of Texas at Austin

Click here to view the day's agenda!

Major funding for this program is generously provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, with additional support from The Pew Charitable Trusts and The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.

The Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin. Its extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of writers and artists, deepening our understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts. Visitors engage with the Center's collections through research and study, exhibitions, publications, and a rich variety of program offerings including readings, talks, symposia, and film screenings.

The Ransom Center’s Preservation and Conservation Division provides a full range of preventive and conservation treatment options for the long-term care of the Center’s collections.  The division maintains three laboratories for the conservation of books, paper, and photographs, and administers an active housing section where technicians produce custom designed boxes and enclosures for the Center's collections. www.hrc.utexas.edu

The Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is a nonprofit conservation facility specializing in the treatment of works on paper, photographs, and books through conservation and state-of-the-art digital imaging services. Founded in 1977, CCAHA serves nonprofit cultural institutions, private individuals, and other collecting organizations. CCAHA’s preservation services staff present educational programs, conduct preservation assessments, and develop emergency preparedness plans. CCAHA also offers fellowships, fundraising support, and disaster assistance.