Date: October 2018/ September 2019

Supervisor: Ken Grant (Head of Paper Conservation)

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The Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin. Its extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of writers and artists, deepening our understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts. Visitors engage with the Center's collections through research and study, exhibitions, publications, and a rich variety of program offerings including readings, talks, symposia, and film screenings.

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During this one year internship, I was able to perform full examination, documentation and conservation treatment of works of art on paper (drawings, lithographs, modern manuscripts, watercolour film storyboard, paper set models, etc).

I was also able to participate in a collaborative research project based on the Great World Map of 1648 by Joan Blaeu.

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Conservation practices carried out varied from single-item treatments to team projects including :

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• Removal of tape and old repairs using solvents

• Mould cleaning on damaged collections

• Various methods of humidification and flattening

• Preparation of items for the exhibitions "The Rise of Everyday Design: The Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain and America" (from the 9th of February to the 14th of July 2019) and "Stories to Tell: Selections from the Harry Ransom Center" (from the 20th July until the 18th of August 2019)

• Incoming collection inspections

• Circus collection rehousing project

• Survey of a 19th c. scrapbook, "Dry guillotine" by Rene Belbenoit (including coloured pencil drawings, manuscripts, machine-typed leaves and photographs)

 

During this year I remained an active member of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) in the Book and Paper Group. This fellowship also improved my communication skills and my confidence, as the Harry Ransom Center led many public and private tours through the Preservation and Conservation labs in which I explained my work to varied audiences.

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The Harry Ransom Center gave me many valuable opportunities, such as going to a two-day Integrated Spectral Reflectance Transformation Imaging (Spectral RTI) workshop in cooperation with the Department of Middle Eastern Studies, the Jubilees Palimpsest Project at St. Mary’s University and MegaVision imaging. The workshop was led by Todd Hanneken, Ken Boydston and Jonathan Kaplan. I also attended many talks and conferences, such as the 47th Annual AIC Meeting in Uncasville, CT.

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