Conservation (3): Bound Volumes and Architectural Plans

LHSA collections encompass a wide array of items that require specialised conditioning and conservation treatment: volumes of all sorts, loose leaf material, and objects... not to mention all our multimedia collections. In this blog, we shed light on the treatment of bounded volumes and architectural plans, with a focus on the conservation of David Bryce's plans detailing the rebuilding of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in 1729.

Examples of bound volumes in LHSA collections range from published books to annual reports, patient registers and ward journals. The 1999-2000 National Preservation Office Preservation Assessment Survey indicated that the bound volumes were in particularly poor condition. The damage sustained included degradation of and/or abrasion to the leather cover, warping or detaching of the boards and spine, mould damage and/or disintegration of the textblock (the pages). Damage may affect one or two volumes or all of a given series. Even where deterioration is relatively limited, for example, partial degradation of a leather binding, access can be problematic without causing further damage or transfer of dirt. In extreme cases, the damage may restrict access to the informational content of the volume.

Volumes have been prioritised for treatment according to condition, importance, and current and anticipated usage. Although work is largely undertaken by a commercial company specialising in the re-binding of books, extensive preparation and subsequent quality checking on completion is required in-house. All work is documented and carried out to the highest standards demanded by the LHSA Preservation and Conservation Policy. 

Wherever the condition of the item and the available funding allow, treatment ensures that damage to the textblock is addressed and as much of the original binding is repaired and retained as possible. For example, tears to the textblock were repaired, the spine was re-attached and the damaged corners consolidated for Volume 1 of the Physician’s Record dating from 1849-50.

Royal Edinburgh Hospital Physicians Record, Vol 1: before and after re-binding (LHB7/50/1).

Where the quantity of volumes to be treated is coupled with limited funds, treatment concentrates on repair to the textblock and replacement of the original case (i.e. front and back boards and spine). As much of the original binding is retained as possible by transferring endpapers, original labels and title pieces to the new binding. The composition of the new case is carefully selected to reflect something of the character of the original, or to visually replicate the appearance of volumes in similar or related series within LHSA collections. A sample of the original case is retained for reference. Examples of this treatment approach include the General Registers of Patients of the Royal infirmary of Edinburgh and the Royal Edinburgh Hospital (REH), and the Royal Maternity Hospital Register of Births.

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh General Register of Patients: before and after re-binding.

Treated volumes are provided with boxes wherever possible, for example, the REH press cuttings books. The press cuttings themselves were repaired and re-bound and a cloth-covered solander box produced for storage.

Royal Edinburgh Hospital Press Cuttings Volumes: before and after re-binding, and boxed.

A significant amount of re-binding and repair work has been carried out on important bound LHSA collections. This work has meant that these items continue to be accessible for research and have been stabilised in order to secure their long-term preservation. A considerable number of volumes in the collection continue to require treatment however, and a comprehensive list has been compiled of all damaged bound volumes held in order to direct further re-binding work.

Similarly, LHSA has a large collection of architectural plans, many of which are in poor condition and improperly housed. Conservation work is ongoing and plans from LHB7, LHB44 and GD16 have been treated to date. In addition, an important series of LHB1 plans from the office of David Bryce, which date from 1872 to 1877 and detail the re-building of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) in 1729, have undergone conservation treatment. These serve as a case study to illustrate the type of conservation work carried out on architectural plans in the collections.

Case study: Background

The Bryce plans were originally housed in the RIE Architect's Office. Some of the drawings were dispersed during a period of planned re-building of the Lauriston Place site during the 1960s, finding their way eventually to the National Monuments Record (Scotland). In 2001, they were reunited with others that had been transferred from the RIE to LHSA. Despite the impressive number of plans that have survived (72), it is also clear that others still remain unaccounted for. Given their cultural value, the plans held by LHSA were made a high conservation priority.

Case study: Condition

The plans are on good quality drawing paper and have been executed with black ink and coloured wash. Pencil annotations can be found, as well as various signatures and other ink inscriptions. Drawn overlaps are occasionally found attached.  Previous inappropriate handling and storage had resulted in heavy surface dirt and extensive physical damage such as creases, tears and losses, and clumsy local repairs were often present. Although the cloth backing to many of the plans had provided protection, the fact that they had been stored tightly rolled meant that accessing the plans without causing further damage was extremely difficult.

Tears and Creasing: before and after treatment.

Case study: Treatment

Treatment was undertaken by the LHSA Paper Conservator in 2000-2001 and included surface cleaning using a chemical sponge and eraser, and removal of previous repairs. This was done mechanically where possible, and steam or acetone applied only when necessary. Tears/losses were repaired/infilled using wheat starch paste and Japanese paper. The plans were then humidified and pressed and stored in custom-made Melinex® (inert polyester) sleeves. Photographic and written documentation of the treatment was also produced. Good quality plan chests were purchased to safely store the treated plans.

Humidification and Pressing: before and after treatment.

36 of the plans were then digitised as part of The Drawn Evidence project, funded by the Research Support Libraries Programme and led by Dundee University Archive Service. Its aim was to provide a representative sample of Scottish architectural plans, drawings and associated material accessible in digital format via the project website.

Conclusion

The level of conservation treatment undertaken on architectural plans is kept to the minimum necessary in order to enable the plans to be stored and accessed safely and effectively, and is carefully executed in line with guidelines on professional best practice. Work now continues with the other plans in the collections.