Volume 9, Number 7
Dec 1985

Events in the News

• In July 1984 the National Library of Wales sponsored its first conservation conference. Its second conservation conference was held September 4-6, 1985, at Gregynog, near Newtown, Powys. Most attendees were from Wales; they came from museums and archives as well as libraries. One of the subjects discussed was the need for a team of conservation exports in Wales to whom people could turn for specialist knowledge.
• In October, in Perth, Australia, Guy Petherbridge conducted a workshop on leafcasting. A report has been received from Murray Millar, who says that Guy taught them a great deal about analysis of pulps, fiber morphology, preparation of test sheets, calculating pulp required for appropriate GSMs, blending pulps, staining methods for microscopy, beating pulps, and so on. There was plenty of technical literature for participants. Mr. Millar says: "For my part, the most significant factors to emerge from the workshop were:

  1. The need to initiate action for an international conference on all aspects of leafoastig research and development.

  2. Buying a leafcaster is like buying a car--Be sure to test drive first! (especially when spares are thousands of miles away)"

  He goes on to say that one big advantage to this conference would be the opportunity to evaluate all the current model leafcasting machines as well as the important ancillary equipment. Participants could discuss the possibility of having a central agency prepare pulp to specification. Anyone who is interested in this idea should contact Mr. Millar (9 Moonta Place, Fisher A.C.T. 2611, Australia) or Mr. Petherbridge (RRA Box 608, Leander, TX 78641).

• November 7-9, 41 members of the Friends of the Dard Hunter Paper Museum gathered in Appleton, Wisconsin, for their annual meeting. Doug Stone, President, reports that the meeting went very well. Outside it snowed, while inside the participants heard speakers, reviewed the history of the organization, and decided to have next year's meeting November 6-8, 1986.
• November 11, the Southwest Association for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (SWAC) met at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center in Austin, Texas, from 9:30-3:00, and heard six papers, had lunch and had a business meeting. Among the papers were:

  "Treatment of Tracing Paper Drawings by Norman Bel Geddes" - Nancy Heugh

  "Analysis Facilities Available on the University of Texas Campus" - Paul Storch

  "The Preservation of Library Materials in New York State"- Constance Brooks

  "Preservation Efforts at the General Libraries, University of Texas at Austin" - Richard Horton

• In January, recent work by members of the Chicago Hand Bookbinders will be exhibited on the main floor of the Northwestern University Library, 1935 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois. Hours: 8:30-5, M-F and 8:30-12 Saturdays. For information call Richard Frieder, 312/491-7599.

  Chicago Hand Bookbinders is a group of professional, amateur and student practitioners of fine hand bookbinding, book conservation and restoration, and design binding. The organization's goals are to encourage high quality work, stimulate interest in hand bookbinding through exhibitions, and share knowledge and skills. The group was formed in 1980, and has approximately 25 members.

• February 9-12, 1986, the Inter-Society Color Council will bold a conference in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, called "Colors of History." Registration is $450 and the deadline was December 14, but this may not be a rigid deadline. Contact Norman W. Burningham, 357 True Hickory Dr., Rochester, NY 14615. Speakers will include Nathan Stolow, Max Saltzman, Elizabeth Fitzhugh, Robert L. Feller and John Asmus. Robert Feller, who sent this information, says, "This conference will hopefully help the uninformed but most conservators will know the story. We are appealing to historic preservation people. Those who need to learn something about pigment and dye identification should be able to get a good review of the subject."