Conservation services are integrated with a wide range of archival and records management activities at the City of Toronto Archives.
Collection assessments, customized storage systems, providing preservation advice, user accessibility, and treatments are a major component of preservation management.
Material requiring conservation is targeted as early as possible when archival records are arranged and described. Conservation treatment is carried out as soon as the need is identified to ensure public access and long term preservation of the records.
What is conservation?
Conservation is any action taken to prevent, stabilize and arrest the process of deterioration or damage to a document. At the City of Toronto Archives there are three areas of focus:
Preventative Conservation
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This conservation practice is based on the principle that prevention of deterioration and damage is preferable to, and should therefore always precede active intervention in the form of restoration. |
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Treatment
This activity includes remedial care, stabilization or restoration when deterioration has already occurred. Best practices include a written and photographic record of the before and after condition of the document, as well as a description of the treatment itself. This information provides a reference for the Archive's staff and for any future conservation treatments that may be required.
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Document before treatment. Click on image to expand. |
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Document after treatment. Click on image to expand. |
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Education
The Conservator collects and distributes information relating to conservation practices, new developments and techniques to staff and users. This information includes care and handling instructions, and training for staff who work directly with archival collections. Education about conservation issues is also provided when tours and public events are hosted at the Archives.
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Group from the Beijing Municipal Archives |
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What does a conservator do?
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According to the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators, a Conservator is a specialist who treats damaged objects and provides advice to cultural custodians who care for them.
Conservators are equipped with the training, knowledge and hands-on experience to examine and apply conservation and preservation treatments. |
In the Archives' conservation laboratory, the most visible aspect of preservation management occurs when treatments are applied. An item is selected for treatment usually because deterioration is so far advanced, that without conservation the item would not be available for public viewing. These items can undergo marked improvements following treatment, and the before and after results can be dramatic.
Other preservation initiatives involve providing safe storage and continuing access to archival collections.
Many items such as photographs and oversize maps and plans require custom-designed storage systems, in a records centre with stable temperature and humidity controls.
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Storage systems must also be user friendly, and easy to access by reference staff and users.
