Harper-Inglis Conservation Fellowship
2009: Emily Rainwater
Rare Book Conservation
Educational Background:
The University of Texas at Austin: Candidate for MS in Information Studies with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Conservation of Library and Archival Materials.
The University of Texas at Austin: BA in Ancient History and Classical Civilizations.
Past Experience:
Team Member, Project to Assist in the Preservation and Assessment of the Antiquarian Library Collections in Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru: Assisted in creating a working method for cleaning the books in the Recoleta Library (Arequipa) and training local volunteers in the procedure. Assisted in plans for the cleaning, extraction, and eventual relocation of books from the San Francisco Library (Arequipa).
Teaching Assistant for Paper Conservation Lab, Kilgarlin Center for Preservation of the Cultural Record, School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin: Assisted lecturer Karen Pavelka in preparing materials and lab for class sessions. Assisted students with class assignments and projects. Assisted Ms Pavelka with the organization and execution of the From Gray Areas to Green Areas: Developing Sustainable Practices in Preservation Environments symposium.
Conservation Intern, Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College: Created custom enclosures for items in the Freewill Baptist Rare Book Collection. Performed minor mends on items before housing.
Conservation Volunteer, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin: Surveyed and performed treatments on 19th century photographic albums. Surface cleaned drawings from the B.J. Simmons & Co. Collection. Constructed custom housings and enclosures for books and objects in the library’s collections.
Intern, National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, Sevastopol Ukraine: Performed treatments on books from the Ancient History Collection. Cleaned and cataloged the collection of Dr. Joseph Coleman-Carter. Assisted with the first ever Crimean Librarians Conference.
LC Projects:
Creating protective enclosures for items from the Rosenwald Collection.
Conservation of items from the Rare Books & Special Collections, Law, and African & Middle Eastern Divisions.
2008:
Tonia Grafakos
Rare Book Conservation
Educational Background:
The University of Texas at Austin: Candidate for MS in Information
Studies with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Conservation.
BA in English and History, The University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Past Experience:
The Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection, Austin, TX.
Treated and housed items from the Rare Books and Archives Department.
Consulted with staff on preservation and conservation needs.
Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, Austin, TX. Surveyed and treated 19th
century photographic albums from the collections.
Pinos y Sarriera Archives Internship, Vilassar de Dalt, Spain. Humidified,
flattened, and rehoused parchment manuscripts dating from the 12th to 18th
centuries. Constructed drop-spine boxes to house paper manuscripts.
Gulf Coast Recovery Project, Jackson, MS. Treated paper, books and objects
damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Completed a conservation assessment of archival
material in the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library.
LC Projects:
Conservation of books from the Rare Books, Law, African and
Middle Eastern, Geography and Maps, Asian, and Music Divisions.
Creating enclosures for items from the Rosenwald Collections.
Research project on pigment consolidation of illuminated manuscripts.
2007: Andrea Knowlton
Book Conservation
Educational Background:
The University of Texas at Austin: Candidate for MS in Information Studies with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Conservation.
The University of Texas at Austin: BA in Plan II (Liberal Arts Honors) and French with a minor in English Literature.
Past Experience:
Center for American History Conservation Internship: Treated and housed books and archival materials from the Center’s collections. Consulted with staff on preservation and conservation needs. Monitored environmental conditions and completed a condition survey of cellulose nitrate sheet film.
Pinos y Sarriera Archives Internship, Vilassar de Dalt, Spain: Humidified, flattened, and rehoused parchment manuscripts dating from the 12th to 18th centuries. Constructed drop-spine boxes to house paper manuscripts. Documented watermarks from historic papers in the archives.
Carrabba Conservation Internship: Treated and rehoused documents, maps, and other archival materials.
Salisbury House Internship, Des Moines, Iowa: Established and implemented a plan to move and protect the book and manuscript collections during major renovations to the historic building. Made recommendations for future conservation and preservation of the book and manuscript collections
Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center: Surface cleaned graphite, ink, and watercolor drawings on paper from the BJ Simmons & Co costume design collection. Constructed housings and enclosures for books and objects in the library's collections.
Studied historical and modern bookbinding techniques under Priscilla Spitler and Sally Key.
LC Projects:
Conservation of books from the Rare Books and Special Collections Division.
Survey, treat and house the Hebrew miniature book collection in the African and Middle East Division.
Research corrosion products on metal furniture on medieval and Renaissance
books to develop conservation treatment protocols for such composite
materials.
2006: Sophie Lewincamp
Paper Conservation
Education Background:
University of Canberra, Australia: Bachelor’s degree in Applied Science majoring in Conservation of Cultural Materials. (2004)
National Library of Australia, Canberra: three-month professional practice.
Past Experience:
National Library of Australia: part-time paper conservator treating art works on paper, documents and books; conserved William Bligh’s notebook.
Australian War Memorial: paper conservation treatments including exhibition treatment and mounting, minor and preventive treatments of World War II and Vietnam Maps and backing removals of a WWI card collection.
Research project: Determine the most effective techniques for managing water-damaged parchment.
National Gallery of Australia: preventive conservation contractor.
LC Projects:
Examination and Conservation treatment from the Library of Congress rare and special collections including:
- Washing and lining of an early 19th century Chinese Scroll Map.
- Washing, mending and inpainting of a Roger Fenton Crimean War Photograph.
- Conservation of a parchment document and an illuminated manuscript.
- Mending and re-housing a Virginia Bull Run Civil War Map.
- Research project on the consolidation of Indian Paintings on Mica.