Preserving items that were intended to be ephemeral, like posters, can pose a challenge. Movie posters and advertisements were sometimes adhered to a wall, torn, and left with adhesive remnants on their backing when removed. The inks and papers used in traditional posters can be glossy, and they are often printed using a silkscreen method. This creates a slick, sealed-off surface that can be difficult to treat and preserve for future study.
While the Charles Henri Ford Poem Posters in the Ransom Center’s collection are art posters, there were some unique conservation needs when it came to displaying them as part of the Art in Words exhibition. The posters in the Center’s collection are mounted on wooden dowels and had been stored rolled for many years. [Read more…] about Unrolling Works by Charles Henri Ford