Nthabiseng Daphney Mothupi Student no: 60943262 (Unique number: 843487)
Assignment1 ARM1504
Table of Contents
Declaration Statement...............................................................................................................................16
Question 1
PRINCIPLES OF PRESERVATION
Preserving Records outlines the key concepts involved with the physical preservation and
protection of records and archives, particularly those materials housed in archival repositories.
1.1 Rule on restoration
How far reconstruction may be undertaken without losing or diminishing the integrity of
the item or document. No process may be used in restoration which would remove,
diminish, falsify (by subtraction, alteration or addition) or obscure in any way the
document’s value as evidence. This applies not only to the written text of the document
but also to its physical structure, when that itself has evidential value.
No process may be used which would in any way damage or weaken the document.
1.2 Compatibility of problem and solution.
The chosen treatment to be applied should not be greater or weaker than the problem. It
may be best to do nothing at all if no acceptable treatment solution is compatible to the
problem.
As far as possible missing material should be replaced by material of the same kind, or
with compatible, similar materials.
1 | Page
,Nthabiseng Daphney Mothupi Student no: 60943262 (Unique number: 843487)
Assignment1 ARM1504
The nature and extent of any repair should be left unmistakably evident. However, this
does not mean that the repair should not be aesthetically like the original.
1.3 Rule of reversibility.
No procedure or treatment should be undertaken that cannot later be undone.
Nothing should be done which cannot be undone without damage to the document.
However, this does not mean that certain treatments, e.g. cleaning and deacidification,
which would never be reversed in practice, should not be used when they are
appropriate. A balance has to be stuck between the possible effects of any treatment
and the durability of the document if it is left untreated and this may justify in appropriate
instances the use of irreversible process, e.g. copolymerization.
1.4 Documentation
Maintaining a complete and accurate record of all treatments e.g. Narrative description,
checklist of work done, photographic record (before, during, and after).
It follows that a proper record should be kept of all restoration treatment. This should include, as
a minimum:
Information identifying the document; the dates of the treatment.
The state of the document before treatment, including information about its components
(e.g. number of sheets); Information on any disassembly which is necessary before
treatment can start;
The sequence of treatment process and techniques used (during treatment this should
serve as a security control to ensure that documents are not lost);
The materials used, including any adhesives, sizes, etc. and the extent to which original
materials have been reused;
The identity of the conservator who has undertaken the work.
Conclusion
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, Nthabiseng Daphney Mothupi Student no: 60943262 (Unique number: 843487)
Assignment1 ARM1504
When determining what preservation work to undertake, the following core principles must be
respected. It is essential NOT to undertake any treatment that • cannot be reversed if necessary
• cannot be done properly or according to instructions • will not last a sufficiently long time • is
harmful to people, either during the treatment itself or from the residue left on the materials
treated • changes the physical characteristics of the materials treated, such as changing colour
or shape • damages the archival material in any way.
3 | Page
Assignment1 ARM1504
Table of Contents
Declaration Statement...............................................................................................................................16
Question 1
PRINCIPLES OF PRESERVATION
Preserving Records outlines the key concepts involved with the physical preservation and
protection of records and archives, particularly those materials housed in archival repositories.
1.1 Rule on restoration
How far reconstruction may be undertaken without losing or diminishing the integrity of
the item or document. No process may be used in restoration which would remove,
diminish, falsify (by subtraction, alteration or addition) or obscure in any way the
document’s value as evidence. This applies not only to the written text of the document
but also to its physical structure, when that itself has evidential value.
No process may be used which would in any way damage or weaken the document.
1.2 Compatibility of problem and solution.
The chosen treatment to be applied should not be greater or weaker than the problem. It
may be best to do nothing at all if no acceptable treatment solution is compatible to the
problem.
As far as possible missing material should be replaced by material of the same kind, or
with compatible, similar materials.
1 | Page
,Nthabiseng Daphney Mothupi Student no: 60943262 (Unique number: 843487)
Assignment1 ARM1504
The nature and extent of any repair should be left unmistakably evident. However, this
does not mean that the repair should not be aesthetically like the original.
1.3 Rule of reversibility.
No procedure or treatment should be undertaken that cannot later be undone.
Nothing should be done which cannot be undone without damage to the document.
However, this does not mean that certain treatments, e.g. cleaning and deacidification,
which would never be reversed in practice, should not be used when they are
appropriate. A balance has to be stuck between the possible effects of any treatment
and the durability of the document if it is left untreated and this may justify in appropriate
instances the use of irreversible process, e.g. copolymerization.
1.4 Documentation
Maintaining a complete and accurate record of all treatments e.g. Narrative description,
checklist of work done, photographic record (before, during, and after).
It follows that a proper record should be kept of all restoration treatment. This should include, as
a minimum:
Information identifying the document; the dates of the treatment.
The state of the document before treatment, including information about its components
(e.g. number of sheets); Information on any disassembly which is necessary before
treatment can start;
The sequence of treatment process and techniques used (during treatment this should
serve as a security control to ensure that documents are not lost);
The materials used, including any adhesives, sizes, etc. and the extent to which original
materials have been reused;
The identity of the conservator who has undertaken the work.
Conclusion
2 | Page
, Nthabiseng Daphney Mothupi Student no: 60943262 (Unique number: 843487)
Assignment1 ARM1504
When determining what preservation work to undertake, the following core principles must be
respected. It is essential NOT to undertake any treatment that • cannot be reversed if necessary
• cannot be done properly or according to instructions • will not last a sufficiently long time • is
harmful to people, either during the treatment itself or from the residue left on the materials
treated • changes the physical characteristics of the materials treated, such as changing colour
or shape • damages the archival material in any way.
3 | Page
