Photograph Conservation Laboratory
The photograph conservation laboratory is located in Old College on the University of Delaware’s Newark campus. In the first year of the Master’s program, during the photograph conservation block, students study daguerreotypes, tintypes, albumen and silver gelatin prints, glass-plate and film-base negatives, electronic media, storage and handling practices, and stabilization treatments including surface cleaning, tear mending, and consolidation. The preservation of photographic documentation is also emphasized.
Second-year M.S. level students majoring in photograph conservation work on a variety of examination, documentation, treatment, and preventive care projects. Students treat photographic materials from the University of Delaware collections, Winterthur archives, and other local and private collections. Recent projects include a wide range of platinum and gum bichromate prints by Gertude Käsebier; small wet-plate collodion images incorporated into an early motion picture device; mold-damaged 19^th -century portrait photographs; and a privately owned photographic album of the Beatles dated 1961-63. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, preventive conservation, advocacy, and developing skills in documentation and treatment, especially surface cleaning, consolidation, attachment and mount removal, and compensation for loss. Single item, mass treatment, and preventive care approaches are pursued. Two-day treatment workshops are offered annually to photograph majors in collaboration with Nora Kennedy and students in the NYU and Buffalo State programs. These workshops enhance knowledge and skills and foster collaboration.
M.S. level photograph conservation majors are supervised by Debra Hess Norris and Barbara Lemmen.
