Last week, we celebrated former
Director of Conservation
Mary Schobert’s
retirement
with a lovely party at the
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
. As Executive Director Laura Hortz Stanton noted in her remarks, it is rare for someone to devote their entire career to a single organization, and Mary leaves CCAHA after 37 years, during which she helped shape the Center as we know it and left an indelible mark on the field of conservation. In particular, Mary’s legacy includes leading the Center’s fellowship program, which has impacted the lives of countless conservators. A number of these former fellows reached out with messages for Mary that were compiled into a limited edition brochure formatted to look like our
Art-i-facts
newsletter (above). Thanks again to everyone who came out on this special night!
In honor of Mary's legacy of mentorship, we would like to take this opportunity to encourage donations to the Ruzicka fund for education and training of new and emerging conservators.
Donations can be made at
ccaha.org/donate
. Please note that your contribution is for the Ruzicka fund in honor of Mary Schobert.
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FOCUS: Louis Renard's 'Poissons, Ecrevisses et Crabes...'
If you
follow us on Instragram
, you know that we've been sharing pictures of CCAHA
Book Conservator Amber Hares
' treatment of a copy of
Louis Renard's 'Poissons, Ecrevisses et Crabes...'
from the collection of
the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia.
In the latest installment of
FOCUS
, we uncover more about this surprising and colorful 18th century guide to marine life.
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CCAHA in the News: Betsy Ross’ Imperiled Family Bible
“It was in danger of degrading to the point of no return, but thankfully Betsy Ross’ Bible, which documents her family tree, is undergoing a much-needed restoration before it’s put on limited exhibition.”
The week before Presidents Day,
Philadelphia Inquirer
reporter Kristin Holmes visited the lab to chat with CCAHA
Senior Book Conservator Theresa Cho
about her treatment of Betsy Ross’ Bible. Check out the article to learn more about this amazing artifact of US history and its journey to the Conservation Center.
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CCAHA in the News: Disaster Preparedness Training in South Jersey
In March, CCAHA led a disaster preparedness workshop in Mays Landing, NJ, presented by the
New Jersey Cultural Alliance for Response
. Read more about how this training helped the staff and volunteers of local cultural institutions write a disaster plan and communicate with emergency management officials
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Applications Open for CCAHA's 2019 Assessment Programs
We are pleased to announce that, thanks to renewed and expanded grant funding from the
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
, CCAHA is able to offer a limited number of subsidized assessments. These assessments, valued at over $5,000 each, will be offered for a significantly discounted cost to qualifying institutions. Applications are now open for assessments in three categories: Preservation Needs Assessments, Risk Assessments, and Digital Preservation Assessments.
Deadline: Friday, March 29, 2019
If you have questions or want to discuss whether this program is suitable for your institution, please contact CCAHA’s Preservation Services Office at 215.545.0613 or
pso@ccaha.org
.
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Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) Program Updates
The New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education contracts with CCAHA to deliver statewide services supporting organizations that safeguard New York's historical documents and library research materials.
Learn more about DHPSNY.
DHPSNY has announced its complete schedule of 2019 workshops! The first series,
Preservation Planning for Collecting Institutions
, begins in April and will be presented in five locations. These sessions will provide guidance on how to create a Preservation Plan and give participants the opportunity to explore sample plans, as well as practice creating goals, objectives, and strategies to make an effective plan.
Preservation Planning for Collecting Institutions
Presenter:
Samantha Forsko, Preservation Specialist, CCAHA
Time:
9:15 AM - 3:30 PM
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Monday, April 1
Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
North Tonawanda, NY (Niagara County)
Tuesday, April 16
Plattsburgh Public Library
Plattsburgh, NY (Clinton County)
Thursday, April 18
Storm King Art Center
New Windsor, NY (Orange County)
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Thursday, April 25
Cazenovia Public Library
Cazenovia, NY (Madison County)
Friday, April 26
Rakow Research Library, The Corning Museum of Glass
Corning, NY (Steuben County)
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WEBINAR
Different Models for Success: Getting Started, Good and Better Versus Striving for "Best"
Date:
Wednesday, March 27
Time:
2:00 PM ET
Speakers:
Cherie Cook, Senior Program Manager, American Association for State and Local History (AASLH); Tiffany Ewig, Programs Director & Administrative Manager, Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC)
Fee:
$30.00
For many institutions, the reality is very different from the “ideal” when it comes to collections care and preservation. Speakers will provide big picture approaches to making incremental improvements at small-to-mid-sized collecting institutions, introducing practical examples that support the concept that nothing in collections care and management needs to be all or nothing. This session will lay groundwork for the rest of the webinar series to come.
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WORKSHOP SERIES
Collections Care Training
Your Photograph Scrapbook: Identification And Preservation
Date:
Thursday, April 4
Time:
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Location
:
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Presenter:
Barbara Lemmen, Senior Photograph Conservator, CCAHA
Fee:
$60
The histories of books and photographs have intertwined since the invention of the first print process, the photogenic drawing. Whereas photobooks tend to be either works of art or commercially published texts, albums and scrapbooks are unique objects compiled by individuals to record their own history. The preservation best practices for all of these formats are dictated by the photographs they contain, the book structure, and the sometimes competing needs of the two.
This workshop will cover the common structures, materials, and methods of attachment for the photographic prints in photobooks, albums, and scrapbooks; discuss how to evaluate and address condition issues; review storage, display, and environment; and cover the basics of reformatting and digitization. Examples of photobooks, albums, and scrapbooks from the 19th and 20th centuries will be available for examination and discussion.
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SYMPOSIUM & RECEPTION
Exposed: The Exhibition Of Paper-Based Materials
Reception at CCAHA
Date:
Thursday, April 4
Time:
5:00 - 6:00 PM
Symposium at Barnes Foundation
Date:
Friday, April 5, 2019
Registration and Refreshments:
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Program:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Fees:
$75 CCAHA/Barnes Foundation members; $100 non-members
Light is the essential problem for museum and conservation professionals responsible for works on paper: to view and appreciate these artifacts, you must have light; however, all visible, UV, and infrared exposure has cumulatively negative effects. The display of works on paper is a balancing act—museums are aware of the causes of deterioration but need to make artifacts accessible.
What questions should be asked when a work on paper is requested for exhibition? This symposium will address strategies to manage the exhibition of works on paper while balancing preservation. A variety of approaches will be presented at the symposium, including the use of lighting design, microfadeometry as a risk assessment strategy, and facsimiles. Case studies will offer approaches to challenging exhibition lighting, with the Barnes itself as one case study.
Registrants are invited to visit CCAHA on Thursday, April 4, from 5:00 - 6:00 PM. CCAHA conservators will offer demonstrations on a variety of facsimile options and discuss conservation treatment to works on paper.
This symposium is intended for conservators, curators, and staff responsible for the care and exhibition of works on paper in museum collections.
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ONLINE FORUM
Digitization
Date:
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Time:
2:00 PM ET
Speaker:
Maggie Downing, Digital Imaging Coordinator, CCAHA
Fee:
FREE!
Join Maggie Downing, Digital Imaging Coordinator, for a free Online Forum on digitization. Maggie will answer all of your questions and address concerns such as:
- What types and size of files should we create when digitizing a collection?
- What are some equipment recommendations for digitizing a particular collection?
- What are some tips on prioritizing materials for digitization?
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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 collecting institutions and private individuals. 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.
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