ARCHIVIST OF THE HALL OF RECORDS 27
PRESERVATION AND REPAIR
Quantity of output is not always a perfect criterion of the amount of
work done in the repair room. A record volume which has torn loose from
its binding is relatively easy to wash, laminate and prepare for binding. On
the other hand, a volume which has had the opportunity to deteriorate fully
in the attic of a county courthouse will require a great deal of inlay; and it
may have to be put together with tweezers. Still, over the years, the simple
and the difficult ought to average out. If we assume that to be the case, then
we may boast of a steady increase in the productivity of our repair room. The
one full-time technician, Mrs. Hiltabidle, and the day-a-week volunteer, Mrs.
Moss, together laminated 24,680 pages this year as compared with 23,342 in
fiscal year 1954.
From time to time doubts are expressed as to the permanency of the
laminating process. Only recently some of the plasticizers in the cellulose
acetate used for record work have aroused suspicion. Some lamination done
elsewhere twenty years ago has deteriorated; but fortunately our oldest work,
dating from 1941, is still in perfect condition; and it is possible that some of
the deterioration noted is due to faulty method rather than materials. It is
also possible that the synthetic aging procedures used in laboratory tests are
inapplicable. That remains to be seen, but in any case, as of now, our work
has given no sign that it is being affected adversely by the passage of time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MANUSCRIPT MATERIALS LAMINATED
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pages
|
|
|
Accounts
|
|
|
|
|
Liber 9 ................................ 1728-1729 ..........
|
|
512
|
|
|
Liber 17 .............................. 1739 ...........
|
|
570
|
|
|
Liber 38 .............................. 1755 ...........
|
|
350
|
|
|
Anne Arundel County
|
|
|
|
|
Land Commissions Liber I. B. No. 1 ....................
|
1724-1767
|
712
|
|
|
Land Records Liber I. B. No. 3 ........................
|
1770-1773
|
548
|
|
|
Liber W. S. G. No. 23 ................
|
1838-1839
|
648
|
|
|
Liber W. S. G. No. 24 ................
|
1839-1840
|
656
|
|
|
Wills Liber T. G. No. 1 ....................................
|
1780-1786
|
368
|
|
|
Baltimore County
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts Liber D. M. P. No. 45 .......... ............
|
1844-1845
|
532
|
|
|
Administration Bonds Liber D. No. 4 ................
|
1668-1785
|
370
|
|
|
Inventories Liber W. B. No. 22 ........................
|
1801-1803
|
660
|
|
|
Land Records Liber I. R. No. P. P.....................
|
1663-1705
|
232
|
|
|
Liber W. G. No. L.....................
|
1783
|
546
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |