Conservation of Documents: Problems and Solutions

1. Introduction to Conservation and its 1
Development in Modem India
2. Nature of Components of Documents and their 11
Changing Character with the Passage of Time
• Paper—A dominant carrier of information 11
• Hand made paper 14
Development of Paper Industry in modem Indial7
The Raw Materials for Paper making 18
Bagasse
Moulding of Paper 21
Modem Principal Techniques of Pulping 22
Chemical Pulping 23
Filling & Loading 25
Varieties of Paper and Properties 23
Weight »
Direction of Paper ^
Sides of Paper 30
Water Marks 30
Durability & Permanence 31
Physical Requirements of Quality Paper 31
Chemical Requirements of Quality Paper 31
Percentage Retention 32
Copper Niunber 32
Manufacture of Newsprint, Cheap Paper and 32
Boards in India
• News Print From Blue Gum (Eucalyptus
Globulus Labill) and Wattle Wood
(Acacia Decurrents Wild) in India
• OLd Manuscripts/Records
The Writing Fluid Ink
• Carbonaceous Ink
• Inks with Provisional Colours
• Blue Iron Inks
• Coloured Inks
• Red Ink
• Modem Indian Inks
• Other Modem Inks
• Liquid Ball Point Pen and Filter Tip Pen Inks
• Felt Tip Pen Inks
• Ball Point Pen Pastes
• Dry Writing Inks
• Typewriter Ribbon Inks
• Stamping Inks
• Effect of Inks on Paper
• Behaviour of Inks with Time
• Determination of Age of Ink
• Revival/Deciphering of Faded Writing
Colours
3. Scientific Study of the Factors, Pronouncing
Cause of Deterioration and Damage of
Archivo-Library Wealth
• Enemies of Documentary Wealth
• Agents Responsible for Decay
• Light
• Heat
• Water Vapours
• Joint Effect of Heat, Light & Humidity
• Atmospheric Pollutants
• Gas Pollutants
• Dust Particles, Smoke & Aerosols
• Acidity
• Role of Environment
• Role of Climate in Deterioration of Records
Bio Deterioration Caused by Insects & Animals 68
Book Worm 69
Booklice or Psocids 73
Cockroaches 74
Silver Fish 75
Moths 76
Crickets 77
Mice 78
Human Beings 78
Biodeterioration by Ftmgi 78
Foxing 80
White Ants 81
Identification of the Species 84
4. Means and Ways Adopted for Preservation 89
Suitable Archival Buildings 90
Site 92
Design & Orientation of Building 93
General Requirement of Archival Building 94
Plaiming Strategies Against Fire 95
Efiective Light Controlling System 99
Ideal Storage Conditions 100
Dust Free Stack Area 101
Proper Air Circulation 102
Storage & Storage Materials 103
Preservation of Documents and Manuscripts 104
Storage in Bastas 105
Storage in Btmdles 105
Storage in Containers 106
Shelves 107
General Characteristic of a Stack and Shelving 107
Safety 108
Strength 109
Materials for Racks 109
Shelving 110
Compactus Shelving HI
Storage of Books, Vols and Outsized 112
Documents
Pollution Free Stack Area 113
Preventing Entry of Pollutants 113
• Deactivation or Removal of Pollutants within 114
the Archives
Use of Enclosures for Protection of Records 115
Preventive Care Against Living Organisms 116
Role of Herbs and Plants as Disinfectant and 116
Insect Repellent
Use of Commercial Insecticides and Insect 117
Repellents
Naphthalene Bricks 117
Spray of Insecticides 118
Coating Materials 119
Sulph Arsenic 119
Gammexane 121
An Ointment with Cederwood Oil 121
Preventive & Curative Meastues Against 121
Rodents
Curative Conservation 122
Fiunigants for Sterilization of Records 124
Required Characteristic of a Fumigant 125
The Role of Temperature in Fumigation 126
Role of Carbon Dioxide in Fumigation 126
Equipment & Technique of Fumigation 127
Vacuum Fumigation 127
Fumigation with Methyl Bromide 129
Fumigation in Gas-tight Covers 129
Process of Fumigation 129
Vault Fumigation 130
Technique 130
Equipment for Fumigation by Paradichloro 131
Bemzene or Killoptera
Naphthalene Fumigation 132
Ins^ticides Controlling Insect Infestation 133
Eradicatiori of Fimgus 135
Microwave Treatment 136
Laser Treatment Technique 137
Specific Consideration in Use of Bioddes 138
Foxing 138
Preventive and Curative Care 139
Planning Modality for Curative Conservation 139
Prevention, Detection & Control of Termites 141
Protection of Records Against War 144
Role of Modem and Old Buildings 146
Against Atomic War
Duplication of Records for their Security 149
5. Restoration of Documentary Wealth 155
Pre-Restoration Activities 156
Reinforcement 156
Guarding, filling of get-in-Paper, and Binding 157
Pre-restoration Considerations 157
Physical Cleaning 157
Qeaning of Stuck-up Materials 158
Numbering or Pagination 159
Opening of Spine & Separation of Sheets 161
Examination of Documents 161
Sorting of Sheets 165
Deacidification 165
Aqueous Methods 167
Otto Schierholtz Method 167
Method of Calcium & Magnesium Carbonate 167
Solution
Methods of Single Solution 168
Calcium Bicarbonate 168
Magnesium Bicarbonate 168
Calcium Hydroxide 169
Langwell Process 169
Barrow's Process—Method of Two Solutions 169
Preparation of Calcium Hydroxide Solution 171
Preparation of Calcium Bicarbonate Solution 172
Non-Aqueous Method of Deacidifiation 172
Bayne's Cope Method 172
Magnesium Methoxide 173
Magnesium Acetate 174
Vapour Phase Method 174
Removal of Stains 175
Reinforcement 177
Sizing or Resizing 179
Repair with Tissue 180
Repair with Chiffon 181
Full-Pasting 181
Inlaying 182
Manual Reinforcement Techniques Invented 184
by the Indian Conservationists
Half Margin Repair 184
Solvent Lamination 187
Special Full Pasting 188
Mechanical Reinforcement 190
Machine Lamination 190
Encapsulation 191
Leafcasting 192
Guarding & Filling of get-in-Paper 194
Binding 195
Types of Binding 196
Materials for Restoration & Binding 199
Binding of Library Wealth—a Planning 202
Chain of a Boimd Book /Vol. 202
Reinforced Binding 202
Features of Reinforced Binding 204
Equipping a Bindary 204
A Ten Point Formula for Examination of Binding 213
Adhesives 215
The Materials Showing Binding Property 216
Classification of Adhesives 216
How an Adhesive Works 218
Properties of Adhesives 219
Shrmkage 219
Cold Flow 219
Permeability of Moisture & Toxic Vapour 220
Flexibility 220
Choice of Adhesives for Conservation in 220
the Tropics
Care & Sadvaging Fire and Water Damaged 221
Records
Principles of Documentary Restoration 225
6. Problems in Conservation and Solutions 235
Problems of Collective Nature 236
Lack of Archival Awareness and Technical 236
Know-how
Problems Relating to Diversity of Climate 237
Problem Relating to Shortage of Standard 238
Writing, Covering, Reinforcement Materials &
Equipments
• Lack of Skilled Conservators and Restorers 240
• Problem in Conservation of Outsized Charts, 241
Maps and Newspaper
• Problems of Individual Nature 242
• Problems Relating to Restoration of Marathi 243
Documents
• Problems in Preservation of Manuscripts in 244
Twang Monastery
• Some Problems Relating to Miniatures 245
• Problem Relating to Managing Effective 247
Restoration in Archives
7. Role of the Indian Historical Records 251
Commission for the Cause of Conservation of
Records
• Role of Commission in Promoting Cause of 252
Conservation
• Functional Archival Building 255
• Preservation of Important Records Created by 256
Agencies other than Central and State
Governments
• Preservation of Cinematography Films 258
• Development of Quality Paper and Ink for 259
Creation of Permanent Records
• Scheme of Financial Assistance for 261
Preservation of Records in the States/
Union Territories and in Private Custody
• Preservation of Vital Records 262
8. Conservation of Vaishnovite 265
Manuscripts on Sanchipat
• Observations 266
• Recommendations for Proper Preservation of 269
Vaishnovite Manuscripts
9. Analysis of Work Done in the Past and 271
Need of Perspective Policy Change
Appendices 279
• Appendix-1—List of Paper Mills as on 1.1.1987 281
• Appendix-II—Raw Materials for Paper & 293
Paper Board
Appendix-III—Nomenclature of Paper & 295
Paperboard laid down by the Directorate
General of Technical Development
Appendix-FV—Data Related to Effect of Sulph- 297
Arsenic on Paper
" Appendix-V—Fumigation of Book-Insects with 299
Naphthalene
• Appendix-VI—Layout Plan for Model Record 301
Room
Appendix-VII—List of Some Fibres in Paper 307
making
Annexures 309
Annexure-I—Conservation of Illustrated 311
Manuscripts on Paper Support
Annexure-II—Cost Comparison of various 315
Reinforcement Techniques
Annexure-III—Requirement of Paper for 321
Docket/File Cover in Preservation of Records
Annexure-lV—Standard Specifications of 323
Materials
Annexure-V—Disaster Plaiuung in Archives 327
and libraries