Before Treatment

A record of wills from 1781 to 1790 in Kent County came to the lab in poor condition.
 
 

 The book was loosely contained between its two covers, made of coarse linen or burlap over board.  There were partial remains of a paper label on the front cover. The book's spine was completely detached. The book's pages were detached from their original sewing.
 
 

During Treatment
 

After the pages are brushed and drycleaned, Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste are applied with tweezers to tears or weak areas to improve the documents' strength.
 
 

After tears are mended, the loose pages are sewn back together as they originally appeared before the spined detached from the book.


After Treament

Following treatment, the pages of the register of wills are now flat and intact.

After the text-block of the book was mended, the book was recased into its repaired cover.