Archives often hold more than documents—they safeguard the tangible symbols of history and achievement: awards, pennants, caps, textiles, and other unique objects that tell stories beyond the written word. These items present distinct preservation challenges because of their varied materials, construction, and susceptibility to environmental factors. This hands-on workshop will teach preventive care measures including how to best handle, stabilize and select best storage solutions for a variety of artifacts commonly found in archival collections. We will discuss affordable storage solutions, put some of them to practice and perform minimal intervention treatments such as cleaning and basic paper repair techniques. In addition, the workshop will address the importance of documenting condition issues and treatment decisions and their outcome through written and photographic documentation to ensure continuity in care. Whether you are new to artifact care or seeking to refine your approach, this session will equip you with practical tools to protect these irreplaceable pieces of history. The instructor will provide different types of artifacts for demonstration but you are also welcome to bring personally-owned objects or those from your collection.
Who should attend?Anyone interested in learning more about preventative care measures, storage solutions, and intervention treatments for artifacts commonly found in archival collections.
What should you know already?No prior knowledge or experience needed
Instructors:- Ashlyn Oprescu, Book and Paper Senior Conservator, The Ohio State University
Ashlyn Oprescu is the Book and Paper Senior Conservator for The Ohio State University Libraries. She completed her graduate studies in the UK and received her MA in The Conservation of Library and Archive Materials from West Dean College in 2013 and a second MA in Preventive Conservation from Northumbria University in 2015. She worked at The British Library, The Charles Dickens Museum, The Dead Sea Scroll Conservation Laboratory, and The Frick Art Reference Library before joining the Conservation and Collections Care Department at OSUL in 2021.
