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Re: Preservation Question



Tom,

You might try humidifying it, then lightly pressing while it dries to keep
it flat.  Something like a paper napkin will probably take up moisture
pretty quickly, so watch it closely while it's humidifying.  And you
probably won't want to press it under much weight at all after it's
humidified - that could press out any texture that the napkin has and take
away some of the characteristics that make it, for lack of a better word,
napkin-like.  Maybe just a few pieces of blotter on top, or a clean, smooth,
folded white towel.

For one possible way to make a humidification chamber, you can take a look
at our Conservation Note on "Humidification and Flattening of Documents" at
http://www.sos.state.mo.us/archives/localrecs/conservation/notes/humidificat
ion.asp
<http://www.sos.state.mo.us/archives/localrecs/conservation/notes/humidifica
tion.asp>

Good luck!

Sandy Hempe
Conservator
Missouri State Archives

-----Original Message-----
From: Wildenberg, Tom [mailto:twildenberg@JWV.ORG]
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2002 10:39 AM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Preservation Question



I have a wonderfully illustrated paper napkin from the 1917 Christmas dinner
of Company G, 47 Infantry Division that was found in a scrap book dating
from the 1920s.   Here's the problem: the napkin was folded all that time.
It won't lay flat when opened.  What's the best way, if any, to remove or
minimize the creases so that it can be placed in a large Mylar sleeve for
mechanical protection during storage?



Thanking the list an advance.



Thomas Wildenberg

Consulting Archivist

National Museum of American Jewish Military History

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