Month: January 2015

CALL FOR MEMBERS: AIC Sustainability Committee

The AIC Sustainability Committee Seeks a Professional Member
Term: June 2015 – May 2017
The Sustainability Committee is a dynamic group of conservation professionals with diverse specialties whose mission is to provide AIC members with resources on sustainability. At the AIC annual meetings, we host sustainability-themed sessions where members share their experiences and tips, and have a booth in the vendor hall where we share the committee’s work and “green” conservation products with the attendees. Throughout the year, we keep the AIC Sustainable Practices Wiki up-to-date, and write on the AIC Blog and for the AIC News on research topics of interest.
 The committee aims to:

  • Provide resources for AIC members and other caretakers of cultural heritage regarding environmentally sustainable approaches to preventive care and other aspects of conservation practice. Resources may be provided via electronic media, workshops, publications and presentations.
  • Define research topics and suggest working groups as needed to explore sustainable conservation practices and new technologies.

Membership Parameters:

  • The committee is comprised of 8 voting members.
  • Members serve for two years, with an additional two-year term option.
  • One member is a conservation graduate student.
  • One member serves as chair for two years.
  • During the second year of the chair’s term, another member serves as chair designate, assisting with and learning the chair’s responsibilities.
  • As needed, corresponding (non-voting) members and non-AIC experts will be invited to guide research on special topics.

Tasks:

  • Telephone conference calls with the committee members- about once a month.
  • Research, write and edit the AIC Wiki Sustainable Practices Page.
  • Participate in researching and writing any group presentations, publications, blogs, and social media posts.
  • Initiate and support committee projects to increase awareness of sustainable practices in the conservation community.
  • Collaborate with related committees, networks, and working groups.

Please submit a statement of purpose (1 page maximum length) and your resume by March 31, 2015 to Betsy Haude, Committee Chair.
Contact: Betsy Haude, mhaud@loc.gov

Conserving America's Archaeological Heritage

When we read or watch a program about a new archaeological discovery or the conservation of archaeological materials, it most often features a site and artifacts from a distant and foreign country. The sites and artifacts are captivating and eye-catching because they provide a glimpse into ancient cultures and highlight works created by skilled and accomplished artisans. International archaeology and archaeological conservation efforts certainly deserve the attention they receive but there are equally compelling projects and artifacts within the United States that merit the spotlight too.

To draw attention to the rich and diverse archaeological heritage present within the USA, this post features a handful of archaeological projects and their work to conserve the finds. The artifacts may not be as old as antiquity but they still convey important messages. For example, they can represent technical innovation, provide insight into life aboard navy and pirate vessels, or shed light on the diverse people colonizing and settling in the country.

To see and learn about some of the technical innovations that occurred during the 19th century, check out the websites for the H.L. Hunley submarine and the USS Monitor ship. The H.L. Hunley, built in 1863, is known as “the world’s first successful combat submarine.” http://www.clemson.edu/restoration/wlcc/project/hunley.html. The USS Monitor was a steam-powered iron clad warship launched in 1861 to counter the rival iron clad ship, the CSS Virginia. http://www.marinersmuseum.org/uss-monitor-center/. You can follow their ongoing research and conservation efforts through their website, by watching the lab cam, or visiting the museum in person.

The Queen Anne’s Revenge ship wreck is another interesting maritime site. Located in North Carolina, the Queen Anne’s Revenge was the pirate Blackbeard’s flagship. The investigation, recovery, research, and conservation of the ship and its contents reveals life aboard a pirate ship in the 18th century. http://www.qaronline.org/Conservation/QARLab.aspx. This is another project that can be followed through their website and where you can visit the lab through scheduled tours and open days.

And, finally, take a look at a couple of videos on YouTube created by the City of Deadwood, in South Dakota. From 2001 to 2004, the city carried out excavations along the main street, investigating the Chinatown section of Deadwood. The artifacts uncovered during this series of excavations provides a valuable narrative of Deadwood’s 19th and early 20th century Chinese population. The city partnered with a conservation lab in Maryland to conserve artifacts unearthed from the excavations, including several historic firearms and numerous Chinese coins. To see some of this work, watch this video about the excavation and discovery of the guns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMtr5ECYOo0. The second video, part two, covers the conservation of the guns and subsequent research: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l7eLuyRBTc.

This is only a small sample of the work going on in the country. Have you worked on or are currently working on archaeological objects from a site in the United States? Please consider sharing and posting your project on AIC’s blog or Facebook page, so that it too can receive a bit of the limelight. Even if you think your project does not warrant attention, please reconsider. James Deetz wrote eloquently, In Small Things Forgotten, that “for in the seemingly little and insignificant things that accumulate to create a lifetime, the essence of our existence is captured.”

This post was developed by the AIC’s Archaeological Discussion Group (ADG). For more information about ADG, please visit the ADG’s Facebook page.

CALL FOR PAPERS: Conservation and Exhibition Planning: Material Testing for Design, Display, and Packing

The Lunder Conservation Center and the Foundation for the American Institute for Conservation, present
Conservation and Exhibition Planning: Material Testing for Design, Display, and Packing
http://www.conservation-us.org/materialstesting
Double beaker
 
 
Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture
McEvoy Auditorium
800 G Street NW (8th and G Street)
Washington, D.C. 20001
This two-day event, hosted by the Lunder Conservation Center, on November 19 and 20, 2015, will be an opportunity for exhibition designers, mount makers, registrars, collection managers, conservators, and scientists to explore the challenges of how materials are selected for use with art objects.
The planning for appropriate collection care before, during, and after display is dependent on accessing reliable information about the materials we use. The production of fabrics, painted surfaces, mounts, foams, and board materials present many opportunities for the creative display of art objects. Understanding how these materials will react with artworks over time is a fundamentally challenging, but necessary, undertaking.
This conference will seek to convey practical considerations that facilitate and benefit collection care in museum exhibition workflows, and how they impact staff across departments. We hope to focus a large part of this conference on advances in the field of conservation science, in order to grant participants access to the available resources that address the challenging question of how the materials used in display and storage environments interact with the objects contained within. A particular focus of the conference will be the interpretation and sharing of analytical results from Oddy testing and alternatives to the Oddy test.
Call for Papers: Deadline March 13, 2015

  • Original papers are invited for submission to focus on case studies and advances in:
  • Designing exhibitions and fabricating display furniture
  • Strategic approaches to collection care during the exhibition implementation process
  • Designing storage environments
  • Conservation work spaces
  • Aspects of material testing: including Oddy testing and alternatives to the Oddy test
  • Monitoring how materials change over time

Authors interested in presenting a paper should submit an extended abstract (400 – 600 words) by (March 13, 2015) to Christopher Wayner (waynercl@si.edu). Your work should be original and not previously published. Contributions of work-in-progress are also welcome. The abstracts will be reviewed by the conference committee and authors will be informed by May 2015.

Job Posting: 2015 Summer Internships at the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute

2015 Summer Internships at the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute
 
The Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute (MCI) is offering short-term opportunities to work on research and conservation projects with staff members. The internships are intended mainly for the summer of 2015, but consideration will be given to projects at other times during the year.  Preference will be given to applicants currently enrolled in conservation training programs or graduate students in related subjects. A stipend may be offered for a period of up to 10 weeks.  Projects will be supervised by the following staff members, whom applicants are urged to contact in advance of application:
 
Mary Ballard, Senior Textiles Conservator, 301-238-1210, ballardm@si.edu
A. Elena Charola, Research Scientist (biodeterioration, stone), 301-238-1213, charolaa@si.edu
Paula DePriest, Deputy Director (biodeterioration), 301-238-1206, depriestp@si.edu
Janet G. Douglas, Head of Technical Studies (analysis of cultural heritage), 301-238-1238, douglja@si.edu
Christine France, Research Physical Scientist (stable isotopes), 301-238-1261, francec@si.edu
Carol Grissom, Senior Objects Conservator, 301-238-1236, grissomc@si.edu
Jessica S. Johnson, Head of Conservation (archaeological materials), 301-238-1218, johnsonjs@si.edu
Robert Koestler, Director (biodeterioration), 301-238-1205, koestlerr@si.edu
Nicole Little, Physical Scientist (ICP-MS, XRD, SEM-EDS), 301-238-1243, littlen@si.edu
Odile Madden, Research Scientist (modern materials, plastic, Raman spectroscopy), 301-238-1257, maddeno@si.edu
Dawn Rogala, Paintings Conservator (modern paints, artists’ materials research/archives), 301-238-1255, rogalad@si.edu
Jia-Sun Tsang, Senior Paintings Conservator (modern and contemporary art  conservation), 301-238-1231, tsangj@si.edu
Ed Vicenzi, Research Scientist (spectroscopic imaging/microscopy), 301-238-1215,  vicenzie@si.edu
E. Keats Webb, Digital Imaging Specialist (advanced imaging), 301-238-1212, webbekeats@si.edu
 
Applications must be made on line through SOLAA (https://solaa.si.edu/solaa/SOLAAHome.html) by February 25, 2015; select the option for the Museum Conservation (MCI) Internship Program.  Selected candidates will be interviewed by telephone, although MCI visits are welcome.

Job Posting: Book Conservator – Library of Congress (Washington, DC)

JOB TITLE: Conservator
AGENCY: Library of Congress
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER:140282
SALARY RANGE: $52,668.00 to $68,465.00/Per Year
OPEN PERIOD: January 12, 2015 to February 12, 2015
SERIES & GRADE: GS-1001-09
POSITION INFORMATION: Open – Permanent
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 12
DUTY LOCATIONS: 2 vacancies in the following location:  Washington, DC, US
WHO MAY APPLY:  
Anyone May Apply – By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.
The Conservator position is located in the Conservation Division in the Preservation Directorate. The Conservation Division accomplishes the preservation of the Library’s holdings – including rare, valuable and special collections through a variety of activities, which include performing condition assessment, housing, and treatment of collection items, conducting research and analysis of Library materials, and investigating degradation processes and efficacy of treatments. Conservators also undertake a range of other activities including preventive care measures such as monitoring and evaluating environmental controls, integrated pest management, and emergency preparedness, response and recovery of collections, product testing and quality control programs, review of guidelines and specifications, and preservation training of staff, allied professionals, interns, fellows, volunteers, and the general public.
The incumbent serves as a conservation specialist in a subject area or format (book, paper, photo conservation) and performs the following duties:

  1. Demonstrates a growing knowledge, and continued development of highly refined manual skills and judgment concerning conservation treatment.
  2. Examines collection items to determine their condition and composition.
  3. Establishes written and photographic documentation of the object condition prior to treatment and drafts written treatment proposals for review by supervisor.
  4. Performs conservation treatment and housing and prepares the complete conservation documentation as part of the permanent record of the collection item.
  5. Implements conservation programs and guidelines as developed by senior conservators and supervisory conservators, including establishing and maintaining optimal exhibition, transportation, and storage conditions, care and handling of library materials, integrated pest management, collections recovery, collections condition survey methodologies, and the use of appropriate housing and storage materials.
  6. In the course of examination and treatment, performs specific chemical tests and analytical techniques under the guidance of senior conservation staff to identity and/or determine condition and composition of materials used in the composition and manufacture of library materials. Interprets and incorporates the results of testing and analysis in condition reports and treatment plans based on an understanding of the chemistry of the materials and history and technology of their manufacture.
  7. Participates in larger conservation or preservation efforts, including projects that involve other Division staff members, Preservation Directorate staff, interns, and volunteers, as well as representatives from custodial units, with varying skill and knowledge levels.
  8. Under the direction from the Supervisory Conservator, may communicate on conservation topics in writing, and may report on conservation issues and research results through publications or presentations at professional gatherings.
  9. Keeps current on state-of-the-art conservation and preservation methods and techniques by reading technical information and journals and attending presentations and training in the area of specialty.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

  1. Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and techniques of preservation and conservation treatment and the ability to properly document actions taken.
  2. Ability to assess collections to determine preservation needs.
  3. Ability to communicate in writing.
  4. Ability to research and analyze collections and materials to carry out conservation treatment and other preservation measures.
  5. Ability to provide consultation, outreach, and liaison services.
  6. Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please go to USA JOBS and carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure you are considered for the position.  The job posting number is: 140282
You are required to apply online for this announcement. The Library is unable to accept mailed or emailed documents. You must complete the entire application process, including submission of all documents BEFORE this announcement closes.
Customer Service Center
Phone: 202-707-5627
Email: JobHelp@loc.gov
Agency Information:
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
101 Independence Ave. SE
LM-107
Washington, DC 20540

Job Posting: Paper & Photo Conservator – Library of Congress (Washington, DC)

JOB TITLE: Conservator
AGENCY: Library of Congress
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 140283
SALARY RANGE: $52,668.00 to $68,465.00/Per Year
OPEN PERIOD:  January 12, 2015 to February 12, 2015
SERIES & GRADE: GS-1001-09
POSITION INFORMATION: Open – Permanent
PROMOTION POTENTIAL:  12
DUTY LOCATIONS: 2 vacancies in the following location:  Washington, DC, US
WHO MAY APPLY:
Anyone May Apply – By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.
The Conservator position is located in the Conservation Division in the Preservation Directorate. The Conservation Division accomplishes the preservation of the Library’s holdings – including rare, valuable and special collections through a variety of activities, which include performing condition assessment, housing, and treatment of collection items, conducting research and analysis of Library materials, and investigating degradation processes and efficacy of treatments. Conservators also undertake a range of other activities including preventive care measures such as monitoring and evaluating environmental controls, integrated pest management, and emergency preparedness, response and recovery of collections, product testing and quality control programs, review of guidelines and specifications, and preservation training of staff, allied professionals, interns, fellows, volunteers, and the general public.
The incumbent serves as a conservation specialist in a subject area or format (book, paper, photo conservation) and performs the following duties:

  1. Demonstrates a growing knowledge, and continued development of highly refined manual skills and judgment concerning conservation treatment.
  2. Examines collection items to determine their condition and composition.
  3. Establishes written and photographic documentation of the object condition prior to treatment and drafts written treatment proposals for review by supervisor.
  4. Performs conservation treatment and housing and prepares the complete conservation documentation as part of the permanent record of the collection item.
  5. Implements conservation programs and guidelines as developed by senior conservators and supervisory conservators, including establishing and maintaining optimal exhibition, transportation, and storage conditions, care and handling of library materials, integrated pest management, collections recovery, collections condition survey methodologies, and the use of appropriate housing and storage materials.
  6. In the course of examination and treatment, performs specific chemical tests and analytical techniques under the guidance of senior conservation staff to identity and/or determine condition and composition of materials used in the composition and manufacture of library materials. Interprets and incorporates the results of testing and analysis in condition reports and treatment plans based on an understanding of the chemistry of the materials and history and technology of their manufacture.
  7. Participates in larger conservation or preservation efforts, including projects that involve other Division staff members, Preservation Directorate staff, interns, and volunteers, as well as representatives from custodial units, with varying skill and knowledge levels.
  8. Under the direction from the Supervisory Conservator, may communicate on conservation topics in writing, and may report on conservation issues and research results through publications or presentations at professional gatherings.
  9. Keeps current on state-of-the-art conservation and preservation methods and techniques by reading technical information and journals and attending presentations and training in the area of specialty.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

  1. Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and techniques of preservation and conservation treatment and the ability to properly document actions taken.
  2. Ability to assess collections to determine preservation needs.
  3. Ability to communicate in writing.
  4. Ability to research and analyze collections and materials to carry out conservation treatment and other preservation measures.
  5. Ability to provide consultation, outreach, and liaison services.
  6. Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please go to USA JOBS and carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure you are considered for the position.  The job posting number is: 140283
You are required to apply online for this announcement. The Library is unable to accept mailed or emailed documents. You must complete the entire application process, including submission of all documents BEFORE this announcement closes.
Customer Service Center
Phone: 202-707-5627
Email: JobHelp@loc.gov
Agency Information:
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
101 Independence Ave. SE
LM-107
Washington, DC 20540

Peek into the past: AIC/MFA Boston's Pam Hatchfield Opens Revere's Time Capsule

Pam Hatchfield appears on WGBH Greater Boston to discuss opening the time capsule.
Pam Hatchfield appears on WGBH Greater Boston to discuss opening the time capsule.

Conservator Pam Hatchfield, head of objects conservation at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and AIC’s board president, had the rare opportunity to excavate and open the oldest known time capsule in the U.S. The capsule was stored in the Massachusetts State House, wedged tight inside a cornerstone, and Hatchfield spent 7 hours carefully removing it. On January 6th, Hatchfield opened the box and removed its contents using a variety of tools, including a porcupine quill.
Hatchfield appeared on a local news show, Greater Boston on WGBH News, to discuss the time capsule and her process, accompanied by Michael Comeau, the executive director of the Massachusetts Archives and Commonwealth Museum. They talked with WGBH News Arts Editor Jared Bowen. You can watch the video of the interview here.

Job Posting: Project Conservator – Penn Museum Conservation (Philadelphia, PA)

Penn Museum Conservation has a three-year opening for a Project Conservator, providing conservation support for the upcoming move of approximately 40,000 objects to an off-site facility.
The Project Conservator is responsible for carrying out a conservation survey of objects to be moved as result of a large construction project. The primary duties include, but are not limited to, assessing the condition of the objects with regard to the move to new storage locations; making recommendations for storage and transit mounts; carrying out necessary treatments to stabilize objects prior to transport; working with Curatorial and Collections staff to facilitate the safe transit of collections to off-site storage. This is a three-year term position, with renewal subject to available funding and Museum needs
The candidate must be a graduate of a recognized Masters-level conservation training program with two-three years of professional experience as a conservator, preferably in a similar institution or equivalent education and experience. Strong organizational skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with the ability to undertake moderate to heavy lifting are essential.
We would like to fill this position as soon as possible as the move has to begin this spring.
All applications must be made via the University of Pennsylvania Human Resources website: https://jobs.hr.upenn.edu/postings/8228

NCPTT announces Mid-Century Modern Structures: Materials and Preservation 2015 Symposium

By Daniel Schwen (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
St. Louis at night
Join us in St. Louis for the Mid-Century Modern Structures: Materials and Preservation 2015 Symposium!
The NCPTT symposium on the materials and preservation issues of Mid-Century Modern Structures will be held in St. Louis, MO, on April 14-16, 2015. Go to ncptt.nps.gov to learn more. Register now!
This three-day symposium will feature a keynote speech on preservation of Mid-Century Structures by Gunny Harboe, plus 23 lectures, a panel discussion, poster session, and tours by leading professionals from across the country.
Major topics include:

  • Preserving the Gateway Arch
  • Establishing an appreciation for mid-century structures from ranch houses and commercial buildings to architectural icons
  • Understanding preservation and materials issues in mid-century structures including metals, glass, concrete, and fiberglass
  • Learning from case studies of unique buildings such as the Farnsworth House, Fallingwater, and the Knapp Centre

Distinguished speakers include: Justine Bello, David Bright, Mary Reid Brunstrom, Amanda Burke, Bradley Cambridge, Barbara Campagna, David Fixler, Ann K. Dilcher, Christopher Domin, Carol Dyson, Evan Kopelson, Joshua Freedland, Holly Hope, Catherine Houska, Nancy Hudson, Mary Jablonski, Pamela Jerome, Stephen Kelley, Walter Sedovic, Laura Kviklys, Alan O’Bright, James C. Parker, Joe Sembrat, Robert Silman, Tyler Sprague, Claudette Stager, Anne Weber, Ashley Wilson and more.
A special public lecture on Monday, April 13, at Washington University in St. Louis will feature Kevin Roche, Susan Saarinen, and Robert Moore. Video recordings of lectures and published proceeding will extend the symposium to a broad audience. Brought to you by the Friends of NCPTT, the National Park Service, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the American Institute for Architects St. Louis, Washington University in St. Louis, and the World Monument Fund.
Read more at http://ncptt.nps.gov/events/mid-century-modern-structures-2/.

Job Posting: Textile Conservator – Museum Textile Services (Andover, MA)

Museum Textile Services in Andover, Massachusetts, has an opening for a full-time textile conservator. This busy private conservation studio specializes in flags, needlework, tapestries, and historic clothing belonging to museums, government agencies, and private individuals.
The conservator will be responsible for stabilization, wetcleaning, mounting, framing, and collections care in addition to report writing, project management, and community outreach. Occasional off-site and long-distance travel is also required. An interest in social media and blogging is desirable.
Candidates should have at least 1 year of experience working as a conservator plus a graduate degree in conservation or equivalent. The position is for four or five days a week for a period of twelve months with the possibility of extension. Salary and benefits are competitive. US citizenship or work permit is required.
To apply, please send a letter of interest, CV, and two references to:
Camille Myers Breeze, Director
Museum Textile Services
PO Box 5004
Andover, MA 01810
or email to museumtextiles@gmail.com. For more information, please visit www.museumtextiles.com or visit us on Facebook. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2015.