Paul R. Jones Educational Initiative: 2007 Summer Institute in Art Conservation

During the month of June 2007 the Department hosted its second Paul R. Jones Educational Initiative in Art Conservation Summer Institute. This year’s program was directed by Jae Gutierrez and focused on the conservation of photographic materials. Five undergraduate students participated in the program; Lauren Bradley (University of Delaware, ’08), Anne Brancati (University of Delaware, ’08), Angela Goebel (Sarah Lawrence, ’09), Janiya Snape (Hampton University, ’07) and Sherita Sargusingh (Lincoln University, ’07).

During the program students learned to identify and distinguish 19th, 20th and 21st century photographic processes ranging from daguerreotypes to digital prints. Each student also examined a photograph from the Paul R. Jones Art Collection to assess its current condition and write a short research paper about the context of the print in regards to its artist’s career and/or the history of photography. On June 13-14th Ms. Gutierrez and the students conducted a conservation survey of the United Negro College Fund’s photographic archives in Fairfax, Virginia. Over 8,000 photographic prints and negatives were examined during the two-day survey. The final two weeks focused on conservation treatment of photographic materials. Treatment techniques discussed included surface cleaning, tear mending, compensation for loss, humidification and flattening, unmounting and lining. Each student was able to apply what they learned about conservation treatment techniques by completing a minor treatment of a photograph from the Department’s photographic teaching collection.

Click here to read a UDaily article about the program.