Document Humidification and Unfolding Workshop at MABI (VT)

Forest Center, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park (MABI)

54 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT  05091

This hands-on workshop is for anyone who has encountered rolled and folded documents and photographs in their work with historical records.  We will discuss how to determine whether items can be safely unfolded or unrolled and how to do so.  We will set up a simple humidification chamber for materials that need to be “relaxed” before you can flatten them and demonstrate how to use it.  Storage solutions for oversized records that are now flat will also be discussed.  There will be ample time to ask questions and to practice working with records and a humidification chamber.  Feel free to BYOPOD!  (Bring your own photographs or documents) to humidify and flatten.  Several humidification chambers may be available for long-term loan.

 Paper conservator (and CCCA Board member) Carolyn Frisa of Works on Paper, LLC will lead the workshop, which is hosted by MABI staff. 

This free workshop is presented by the Vermont Historical Records Program and the Collections Care & Conservation Alliance, with funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

 Carolyn will be available after the workshop to answer your questions about humidification or about paper conservation more generally.  A behind-the-scenes tour of MABI museum spaces will also be on offer.  Consider bringing lunch and spending some time in the park.

 Limited to 20 participants.  More details will be sent to registrants the week before.  Please RSVP to sos.vhrp@vermont.gov.  Happy Spring!