New Conservator Barbara Hebard

I became the Conservator of the John J. Burns Library in January 2009, after being employed as Book Conservator at the Boston Athenaeum for more than 18 years. I kept abreast of current conservation practices and received training in emergency response through the Athenaeum’s generous Professional Development program. Prior to working at the Athenaeum I was trained in bookbinding at the North Bennet Street School by Mark Esser, former conservator at Burns, and worked part-time as Book Conservator at the Harvard Business School.

 

In February of this year I gave a presentation for the Boston College library staff, showing recent work I had executed while at the Boston Athenaeum. A book which attracted considerable interest during this presentation was the India Wharf Rats ledger book from the 1880s. The India Wharf Rats, a Boston men’s dinner club founded in 1883, kept records of menus and guests in this commercially bound volume. The book was also embellished with charming sketches drawn by club members.

India Wharf Rats ledger- before and after

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This book and subsequent ledger books were stored in the club kitchen over the stove. Unfortunately, a stove fire caused fire and smoke damage to the books. In the photos (left) you can see the smoke and fire-damaged book as it appeared prior to treatment, and the volume as it now appears after completion of the conservation treatment. This represents, of course, just one of thousands of treatments done by me while at the Athenaeum. In my tenure there I had the great privilege of working on books from the collections of George Washington, General Knox, John Quincy Adams, and King’s Chapel, as well as on other significant 18th and 19th century imprints and manuscripts. Additionally, my tasks included the preparation of exhibition supports for books and writing articles about Athenaeum collections.
 
My work here at Boston College has proven just as interesting. I have had a very productive first quarter at the John J. Burns Library, becoming familiar with the building, collections, and Boston College staff. I took down one exhibition, installed another, and completed important bench work.

 

I have trained student workers and interns regarding the safe handling of books and archival materials. Our Bookbuilders of Boston interns, Meaghan Ryan ‘09 and Mike Pesce ‘09, have received instruction from me, learning about the parts of a book, paper production and repair, monitoring climate in rare book libraries, medieval colors and their production, staple removal, and how to make decorative paste papers. They have completed two conservation related projects as part of their internship; in the adjacent photo you see them proudly showing some of their work to the staff at Burns Library. They successfully completed paste paper covered hand-sewn pamphlets and created protective enclosures. It has been a pleasure to work with them, their enthusiasm for books always brightened my day.

 

Manuale sodalitatis B. Mariæ Virginis - before and after

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Early in this quarter I met with Burns staff to discuss the conservation needs of their dedicated collections. After these discussions, I executed a number of conservation treatments and completed treatment reports with photo documentation. One example of work done on the Jesuitana collection is shown here (left), a volume entitled Manuale sodalitatis B. Mariæ Virginis, ac iuuentutis uniuersæ selectæ Gymnasiorum Societatis Iesu, miraculis dictæ sodalitatis illustratum. The title page required surface cleaning and re-attachment, and a number of the pages of the text block were dog-eared. Before and after treatment condition is shown in the accompanying photos. I have repair plans in place for additional Jesuit imprints, as well as the other numerous special collections here at the Burns Library.

 

I have begun a major preventive conservation project: storage modification for the rare materials kept in the Treasure Room; a storage room for the finest materials in the Burns Library. Stage one, lining the flat files and attaching handles to the drawers, is already completed.  The second stage of this project, creating custom drop-spine boxes for Treasure Room books, is underway. Three such boxes, shown on my work bench in the lab (right), now protect rare books in the Treasure Room.

 

In addition to meeting with Burns staff, I have met with other Boston College library staff members. The all-staff meetings at the O’Neill Library have been useful both for gaining an understanding of current Boston College procedures and for getting acquainted with library colleagues. I also have met with Boston College staff such as the HVAC personnel; all have provided invaluable advice on the Burns Library climate system.

 

My first months have been an excellent start to my career at Boston College, and this next quarter offers more opportunities to attain greater knowledge about the Burns Library, its collections, and its exhibition needs.

 

Barbara Hebard

Conservator, Burns Library