Project Case Studies
Naval Midshipman Certificate
An 1843 certificate commemorating the commission of a Naval midshipman was brought into the Lab. The certificate was made from vellum, a writing surface made of treated animal skin. Because of the nature of animal skins, temperature and humidity changes cause vellum to expand and contract, changing its shape. The vellum certificate had slipped in its frame and, as a result, rust from the nails holding the frame in place had rubbed onto the document.This certificate arrived in the Conservation Lab in its original frame.
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