Happy New Year from everyone at the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts! We're already gearing up for a busy 2019, with a full schedule of Collections Care Training workshops (learn more and register below), trips to national conferences and events, and exciting projects in the lab. Our first update of the year includes some big news...
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Director of Conservation Mary Schobert Announces Retirement
Last month, Director of Conservation Mary Schobert informed staff that she will retire in February 2019, just after completing her 37th year at CCAHA. Mary retires as the Center's longest-tenured staff member, having joined CCAHA as a technician in 1982, then serving as
a conservator apprentice beginning in 1984,
and working as a conservator since 1987.
In her time here, Mary has been a beloved colleague, overseen countless treatments, and made invaluable connections between the Center and the community. Mary has also had a hand in training and serving as a mentor to many conservators through our fellowship programs, making a lasting impact on the field and on the Center. Look for a more in-depth profile of Mary and her work at CCAHA in our next
Art-i-facts
newsletter.
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. Donate at the link below and note that your contribution is for the Ruzicka Fund in honor of Mary Schobert.
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Career Opportunity: Director of Conservation
In light of Mary Schobert's retirement, CCAHA is seeking a senior level conservator with specialization in paper, book, or photograph conservation to serve as Director of Conservation for our laboratory in Philadelphia.
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Career Opportunity:
Fellowship in Paper Conservation
CCAHA is pleased to offer a twelve-month fellowship, with the possibility of renewal for a second year, in the conservation of works on paper, beginning September 3.
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Treatment FOCUS: Reconstructing Duchamp's Green Box
In the latest installment of FOCUS, we looked at CCAHA Book Conservator Richard Homer's effort to reconstruct Marcel Duchamp's innovative 1934 collection
The Green Box. When we received this particular deluxe edition copy, it had a number of serious issues: some components were detached, two of the box’s walls were missing, and there was water damage which had resulted in staining and planar distortion. Take a look at the before and after photos, and read more about this "guidebook" to one of Duchamp's most ambitious multimedia pieces.
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Take the Field Services Alliance Survey
CCAHA strives to ensure that cultural heritage is protected and well cared for across the country. One of the ways we do this is by taking on leadership roles within associations, boards, and other groups. CCAHA Preservation Specialist Samantha Forsko has served as a committee member, vice chair, and, since 2016, chair of the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH)
Field Services Alliance (FSA)
. An affinity group of AASLH, the FSA is an organized group of individuals, offices, and agencies that provide training, guidance, and other forms of assistance to local historical societies, archives, libraries, and museums in their respective states or regions.
Under Samantha’s leadership, FSA is creating an evaluation tool to help improve the services provided by outreach and education offices across the country. We are asking you to help with this national effort by filling out the following survey, which should only take 10-15 minutes.
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Changes to NEH Preservation Assistance Grants
The NEH is making changes to one of its most valued grant categories,
NEH Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions
. As of last month, the deadline had been moved to January 31, 2019 (rather than the old mid-May deadline) and there’s a new maximum request limit of $10,000. There are also special opportunities for organizations in federally-designated disaster areas and American history projects in anticipation of the upcoming 250th anniversary.
Note:
Du
e to the ongoing government shutdown, the NEH website is not being maintained and the information it displays may not be up to date. Although NEH staff will not be able to process any transactions submitted via the website or respond to inquiries until funding is restored, we advise you to prepare for the currently published deadline and continue to check
neh.gov
for updates.
Current deadline: Thursday, January 31, 2019
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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.
Last month, DHPSNY announced its 2019 schedule of
free webinars
.
DHPSNY's education programs are presented free of charge to New York institutions.
DHPSNY also recently announced a
Collections & Community survey, part of a multi-year research project to assist in the collection, preservation, and accessibility of records pertaining to under-documented topics and communities.
Click here to take the survey.
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WORKSHOP SERIES
Collections Care Training
Mechanics of Paper: Progress and Preservation
Date:
Thursday,
March 7
Time:
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Location
:
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Presenter:
Anna Yates Krain, Senior Conservation Assistant, CCAHA
The evolution of paper is woven into the history of human development, from its important role in collecting knowledge to advancements in science, mathematics, music, art, poetry, and religion. In this workshop, participants will discover how paper is made and how the technology of paper spread across the globe. In this lecture and demonstration, participants will also learn the terminology that defines paper as well as best practice recommendations for preservation.
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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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