The Letters of 1916: Creating History is a project led by Trinity College Dublin and National University of Ireland Maynooth which focuses on the time period surrounding the Easter Rising of 1916. Cultural institutions, like the National Archives of Ireland, contributed to the project with material photographed, transcribed and uploaded onto a digital collection. 
Since September 2013, researchers from Trinity College have been using the material relating to this period at the National Archives of Ireland, 50 boxes of correspondence from the Chief Secretary’s Office of Registered Papers.

Because of the poor quality of paper pulp used, the documents are very brittle and torn. Documents were usually attached with metal paper clips that caused degradation and the various inks present are very sensitive to humidity. 
Researchers had selected letters for photography using archival clips to receive treatment. Each step was documented and a procedure sheet was previously established. The documents were then treated in-situ.

This project already started in previous years by conservators and conservation interns. After talks with my supervisor, it was decided to use already made remoistenable tissue successfully used for other large scale projects to further increase the speed.

 

• Removal of rusty paper clips

• Dry cleaning with smoke sponge

• Tears repairs with remoistenable tissue and heating spatula

• Retagging

• Rehousing in conservation box

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