The Arthur E. Holman Jr. Conservation lab is well equipped to perform treatments of varying complexity on book and paper documents.  These range from minor repairs and stabilization to full-scale conservation treatments.  Additionally, the lab is available to assist with exhibit preparation activities such as the creation of book cradles or document mounts.  Many items sent to the lab are re-housed in custom-made enclosures such as clamshells, phased boxes, polyester sleeves, or custom-cut mats.   

Below is just one example of a treatment that has taken place in the lab.  This example will change periodically. 

This 1880s volume was originally in a deteriorating binding and the pages were damaged from use and exposure to poor materials.  At the curator’s request, it was repaired and rebound in a new leather binding with new end-sheets made of period paper.  The binding was then blind-tooled using the lab’s set of historic gold finishing tools.  The original boards were saved and stored in the clamshell created for the volume. 

Pictures of the volume before treatment in the lab: 

Pictures of the volume after treatment in the lab: