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Re: preservation of flags



Textiles have long interested me. Thanks for sharing this info.  One of the
most intriguing displays of flags/banners and uniforms was that of  "Through
Russian (or Soviet) Eyes" which was at the Pyramid in Memphis, TN, a couple
years ago. It was a display of artifacts and photos depicting the impact of
WWII on our Russian frriends.  Although I have seen many flags, etc., I was
simply bowled over by the phenomenal display of Nazi and Soviet banners
which were seemingly in as pristine a condition as one could hope for. In
addition to the silk banners and the like, several uniforms, on mannequins,
were also on display. One of Hitler's uniforms, and one of his walking
sticks were there. However, the most eerie, was a uniform of Hermann Goring.
The mannequins (headless) were of the exact proportions as these fellows.
How Goring's uniform cape draped over the stocky frame was chilling...one
almost expected him to come to life. Several other wool uniforms were also
on display.  I rather suspect our Russian friends gave preservation priority
to these items of historical significance. The exhibition also included lots
of other documents from that time.  Supposedly, that was its first venue
outside the Soviet Union.  If you have a chance to take it in, do so. I am
not sure where the exhibition is now.  The three things I remember vividly
are:  the pristine textiles; Goring's uniform and realistically proportioned
mannequin; a display of a room in which a Russian family, desperate for food
during the seige of Leningrad, had resorted to boiling wallpaper, to coax
off the potato-based adhesive used at that time to affix wallpaper. A soup
was then made from this solution....   I'd be most interested to know what
Soviet preservation facility should be commended for that fine work.


Sharon Lee Butcher
Reference Librarian
AEDC Technical Library
100 Kindel Drive, Ste C212
Arnold AFB, TN  37389-3212
931-454-4430
Fax:  931-454-5421
sharon.butcher@arnold.af.mil

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Katherine Collett [SMTP:kcollett@HAMILTON.EDU]
> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 11:13 AM
> To:   ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
> Subject:      Re: preservation of flags
>
> Thank you all for the many useful replies to my question about preserving
> flags and watercolors.  I've been gleaning the list's collective wisdom on
> many subjects for several months now, but this is the first time I've
> actually asked anything myself--and I'm impressed with the depth, range,
> and graciousness of your response. Here are most of the responses (I've
> only left out those that are essentially duplicates of the first one):
>
> Could you summarize replies for the list? I've got a lot of stuff like
> this, too.
> Rebecca Fitzgerald, CA
> Mt. St. Mary's Archives & Dept. of Special Collection
> Mt. St. Mary's College & Seminary
> 301/447-5397
> 301/447-6868 (fax)
> rfitzger@msmary.edu
>
> Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 08:40:08 -0400
> To: kcollett@hamilton.edu
> From: Mary Huelsbeck <mkh@uwm.edu>
> Subject: Re: preservation of flags
>
> Hi Katherine:
> my name is Mary Huelsbeck and I am a graduate student in the archives
> program at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Before I came back
> to school, I worked for five years in the museum field in collections
> management. I don't know if you have gotten any replies to your query
> but I thought I would offer you two options for storing your flag. I would
> not offer any suggestions about the prints without seeing them.
> One option for the flag is to roll it. To properly roll a textile, you
> will need a tube, (preferably an acid free tube) that should be longer
> than the width of the flag. Whether it is acid free or not, wrap the
> tube with acid free tissue. Next, lay pieces of acid free tissue on a
> table so that when you lay the flag down on them, the tissue extends
> beyond
> all
> sides of the flag. Then, roll the flag onto the tube. When the flag is on
> the tube, wrap acid free tissue or a prewashed piece of cotton around the
> outside of the tube and the tie. The second option would be to buy a acid
> free
> box and lay the flag inside the box. Light Impressions has textile box
> kits
> you can buy with the acid free tissue included. Whatever you do, try not
> to
> fold the flag - especially where it is frayed. If you have to fold it to
> fit
> it into a box, roll pieces of acid free tissue and place those in the
> folds to
> support the folds and prevent creases from forming.
> It is easier than it sounds. Let me know if you have any questions -
> good luck
> Sincerely:
> Mary Huelsbeck
>
> Katherine,
> Here are a few broad suggestions:
> Store it in the dark as flat as possible. Store it in an enclosure made of
> acid-neutral, NON-BUFFERED rag mat board. Buffered board may have a
> bleaching effect on some fabrics. Store in as cool an environment as
> possible, with a stable temperature and relative humidity. Light,
> handling,
> and a fluccuating environment are its worst enemies. Hope this helps.
> Light Impressions has oversized boxes for sale, or you can custom make one
> with sheet rag mat. Hope this helps.
> Steve Hoza, Conservator
> Arizona Historical Society Museum
>
> Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 09:43:22 -0400
> To: kcollett@hamilton.edu
> From: "Ator, Kirsten" <Kirsten.Ator@AIG.com>
> Subject: RE: preservation of flags
>
> They should really contact a textile conservator for the flags and paper
> conservator for the watercolors. Joanna Hill is the tex. conserv. that I
> work with who is great. Her # is 617-876-9245 in Boston. The Brooklyn
> Museum of Art has a couple of great paper conservators-one is Rachel
> Danzing, or Toni Owen. They both probably do freelance work outside of the
> museum and can be reached at 718-638-5000 ext.275.
> If they need further information on storing them after they've been
> treated
> and stabilized they can email or call me.
> Kirsten
>
> Madam,
> I read your interesting dilemma on the World War Two flag through the
> archives
> listserve list.
> Though I am not with a preservation-related institution, I am familiar
> with
> one in Pennsylvania which has done work on flags in worse condition than
> that
> you are describing.
> The Capitol Preservation Committee has a Web site at
> http://cpc.leg.state.pa.us
> but all my efforts to download the page have not succeeded. Below I have
> included their mailing address, phone number, and fax for your use. From
> the
> sources I have, they do not have an e-mail address, but it would be good
> to
> check with them firsthand.
> Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee (CPC)
> Room 30
> Capitol Annex Building
> Harrisburg, PA 17120
> Phone: 717-783-6484
> Fax: 772-0742
> I hope this helps with your preservation efforts! Best wishes.
> Michael Clater
> Library Assistant
> Clearwater Christian College
> 3400 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd.
> Clearwater, FL 33759-4595
> www.clearwater.edu
>
> Good morning Katherine,
> Please forward any information you receive. I have a large flag from 1947
> that one of our founders would display from his house during Mardi Gras.
> It
> is a flag that former kings of the Rex Mardi Gras Krewe flew each year and
> I would like to hear whatever suggestions that come.
> Barbara
>
>
> Barbara J. Attebery, MLIS, AHIP
> Librarian - Collection Development
> Alton Ochsner Medical Library
> 1516 Jefferson Highway
> New Orleans, LA 70121
> Ph. (504) 842-3760
> Fax (504) 842-5339
> battebery@ochsner.org
> http://www.ochsner.org/library
>
> Hello,
> We are pondering the same question with one of our pre civil war flags.
> Could you please forward to me or the group all information you receive?
> Thank you,
> James Beaven
> Librarian Assistant V
> Special Collections
> Purdue University
> West Lafayette, IN. 47907
>
> Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 09:43:32 -0400
> To: kcollett@hamilton.edu
> From: Louise Sandberg <lsandberg@mailserv.mvlc.lib.ma.us> (by way of
> kcollett@hamilton.edu (Katherine Collett))
> Subject: Re: preservation of flags
>
> Katherine,
> The Museum of Textile History conserves fabric items. They are very
> expensive. I took a wwi banner to them, but the cost was too high.
> Ultimately
> they wrapped in tissue and tied it closed. It all depends on the value of
> the
> item to the collection. The museum address is 491 Dutton St. Lowell, MA
> 01854
> 978-441-0400
> Louise Sandberg, Special Collections
> Lawrence Public Library
> Lawrence, MA
>
> When I worked as a Curator in a local museum we had some
> painted banners on silk that we wanted to display and give support
> to before they dissolved.
> I bought canvas stretchers and sealed them with poly urathene.
> Then we put peg board (also sealed) on the stretchers. That made
> the base.
> Next I bought velvet which I washed and rinsed several times to
> remove any chemical left from manufacturing.
> I placed the banner on the velvet so that the fibers of the velvet held
> the banner. If you are looking at the base and the fibers are facing
> up then the banner would be held up by the fibers.
> I covered the whole thing with Crepeline. This is a very thin material
> that is available through Talas. Their # is 212-219-0770. It runs
> about $24.00/yard.
> This worked very well. good luck
> Peg Schram
> Records Manager
> Allen County/City of Fort Wayne
> 1 East Main Street
> City/County Building B-16
> Fort Wayne, IN 46802
> peg.schram@ci.ft-wayne.in.us
> 219.427.5682
>
> When our Irish Brigade Flag was in need of preservation, we contacted Mr.
> Harold Mailand. His phone number is 317-266-8398, fax number 317-266-8399,
> email context@netdirect.net
> He will be able to help you.
> Sincerely,
> Angie Kindig
> Assistant Archivist
> Notre Dame Archives
>
>  >>> Katherine Collett <kcollett@HAMILTON.EDU> 07/11/01 12:49PM >>>
> We have a number of interesting preservation problems in our archives at
> the moment. Can anyone give us some advice on what we should do with a
> U.S. infantry flag, possibly World War II, made of what feels like heavy
> silk, which is perishing along one edge and discolored in a band across
> the
> middle, but otherwise the silk and the embroidered emblem are beautiful
> and
> in reasonably good condition? What is the best way of preserving
> cloth? Also, we've found two rolled-up Asian watercolors (of Kuan-Kung and
> Chow Chang, God of War and Home Protector, according to the label, which
> also says "Hangchow College Museum of Religion"), donated in 1929 by an
> alumnus, that are falling to bits--they have crumbled at the edges and
> torn
> in strips around the roll--but the painting looks beautiful from what we
> can see of it. Any suggestions?
>
>
> Katherine Collett
> Archives
> Burke Library
> Hamilton College
> 198 College Hill Road
> Clinton, NY 13323
> kcollett@hamilton.edu
>
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