Skip to main content
All 25 posts on

Conservation

Conservation of objects in the Folger collections
“To re-back, or not to re-back”
Two photos of a spine of a book laid on top of each other. Both have an exposed spine but the bottom image has a endcap at the top of the spine and thin paper has been laid over the exposed edges of the paper.
Collation

“To re-back, or not to re-back”

Posted
Author
Rachel Bissonnette

Book and Paper Conservator Rachel Bissonnette gives a look behind the scenes at the conservation work done on one of our collection’s books.

Twill tape, plus toggles, plus toggler, equals quick-ties
Collation

Twill tape, plus toggles, plus toggler, equals quick-ties

Posted
Author
Erin Blake
A Conservation Intern’s Observations on STC 2608
Collation

A Conservation Intern’s Observations on STC 2608

Posted
Author
Kevin Cilurzo

A guest post by Kevin Cilurzo (with particular thanks to Adrienne Bell) For a conservator, to disbind and rebind a book is a rare chance to study and understand its binding structure. With broken sewing and loose detached leaves, Folger…

Using cardboard spacers to fill gaps on the shelf
Collation

Using cardboard spacers to fill gaps on the shelf

Posted
Author
Erin Blake

Sometimes the simplest tools are the best. This post is a tribute to the humble hunk of folded cardboard.1 Cardboard spacer filling the gap on the shelf while two large volumes are in use. All photos are by me, Erin…

A late 15th-century tapestry fragment with visible restorations
Collation

A late 15th-century tapestry fragment with visible restorations

Posted
Author
Erin Blake

Yes, indeed, the Folger collection item the March 2020 Crocodile Mystery is two-toned because of fading (and yes, indeed, it is a tapestry). Congratulations and thanks to Elisabeth, Ed, and Carolyn for their comments. The mystery wasn’t quite solved, though:…

Stuff in Books: a conundrum
Folger 265255
Collation

Stuff in Books: a conundrum

Posted
Author
Elizabeth DeBold

When we think of book history, most of us focus on the creation, dissemination, and reception of texts. But as many scholars have begun to discuss in the last few years, books and manuscripts ended up being used in many…

Snakes! on a ... book?
Collation

Snakes! on a ... book?

Posted
Author
Abbie Weinberg

“What is that?” someone asks, pointing to the corner of one of the books open for display. “This? Oh, it’s a book snake. Most useful object in the library!” I reply. This conversation happens once in nearly every book display…

How to Make a Librarian Panic
Collation

How to Make a Librarian Panic

Posted
Author
Adrienne Bell Austin Plann Curley Elizabeth DeBold Renate Mesmer

Co-authored by Elizabeth DeBold (Curatorial Assistant), Renate Mesmer (Head of Conservation), Austin Plann Curley (Book Conservator), and Adrienne Bell (Book Conservator). With special thanks to Kevin Cilurzo (Conservation Intern).   As some of our respondents observed in their comments on…

Histories and Communities of Books
Collation

Histories and Communities of Books

Posted
Author
Megan Heffernan

A guest post by Megan Heffernan Working in the Folger Shakespeare Library this year has opened my eyes to the important role that research centers play in shaping knowledge. If this sounds like a truism, bear with me for a…

Building a Replica of the John Wilkes Booth Diary
Collation

Building a Replica of the John Wilkes Booth Diary

Posted
Author
Austin Plann Curley

Guest Post by Folger conservator Austin Plann Curley “You can’t always get what you want.” So said the Rolling Stones in 1969. Such was the case for the Folger Shakespeare Library in our recent request to borrow the Diary of…

What to do about the Macro manuscripts?
Manuscript leaf showing a drawing of a medieval stage.
Collation

What to do about the Macro manuscripts?

Posted
Author
Kathleen Lynch

We thought we had the right question. Renate Mesmer (Head of Conservation), Heather Wolfe (Curator of Manuscripts), and I invited several scholars to the Folger for a lab-based discussion on “V.a.354: What to do about the Macro Manuscripts?” Specifically, the…

The mystery of gridded paper
Collation

The mystery of gridded paper

Posted
Author
Austin Plann Curley

A guest post by Austin Plann Curley For a blank sheet of paper, we thought this one was pretty interesting. But before we get to what exactly it is, let’s refresh our understanding of how paper is made. Prior to…

1 2 3