• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ransom Center Magazine

  • Articles
  • Sections
    • Art
    • Books + Manuscripts
    • Conservation
    • Exhibitions + Events
    • Film
    • Literature
    • Photography
    • Research + Teaching
    • Theatre + Performing Arts
  • Print Edition

Red Cross

World War I Red Cross poster undergoes conservation treatment for exhibition

April 25, 2014 - Heather Hamilton

After treatment. Photo by Heather Hamilton.

The conservation department at the Harry Ransom Center treated many collection items in preparation for the current exhibition The World at War 1914–1918. Among these were numerous posters of various sizes, including a mural-sized poster (about 3 x 5 feet) depicting a Red Cross nurse. The poster reads: “Join—Red Cross Work Must Go On!—all you need is a heart and a dollar.”

The poster came to the paper conservation lab having been lined in the past with a heavy, blue, starch-filled cloth, much like that used for binding books. This inappropriate fabric lining was noticeably wrinkled, and the blue color accentuated a large loss near the upper right corner of the poster. We made the decision to remove this lining and flatten the cockled poster. We also decided to fill the loss with a toned paper to make this area less distracting to the viewer.

First, we surface cleaned the poster using a large, soft brush to remove loose dust and dirt. We continued cleaning the surface grime with rubber sponges, sometimes referred to as “soot sponges.”  To remove the lining fabric, we needed to bathe the poster, which would loosen the lining adhesive and allow us to gently peel back the fabric. We tested all of the inks to ensure that they would not be sensitive to water, and we then pre-humidified the print and bathed it in deionized water at a neutral pH. The adhesive began to soften within only a few minutes, and we were able to separate the lining from the poster. While the poster was still in the water bath, verso upward, we could feel that there was still adhesive clinging to the back of the paper. We used wads of cotton to swab off this residual adhesive. We exchanged the water bath two times until we were confident that we had cleaned it as well as we could. Next, we lifted the wet poster out of the bath. Handling wet paper is not difficult because we include a layer of spun polyester—called Reemay—on both the front and back of an item when we bathe it. The Reemay acts as a support during the bath and afterwards, when transporting the wet paper. The poster was allowed to dry flat between layers of Reemay and blotters, under weight.

About a week later, we removed the poster from under the weight and began work on the fill. In paper conservation, Japanese paper is often used to fill losses. This strong, thin paper works well for repairing or filling losses and can be toned to a suitable color. The poster’s missing portion covered both red and off-white sections. We toned a Japanese paper with red acrylic paint and layered this over an off-white Japanese paper. The fill was then shaped to fit the loss and adhered in place with wheat starch paste. Again, the poster was placed between Reemay and blotter, under weight to ensure that the fill would dry flat. Once the poster was completely dried, the fill was trimmed along the outside edge.

This treatment was unusual only in that the poster is so large. Otherwise, the techniques described here are common treatments in paper conservation.

Please click on thumbnails to view larger images.

Before treatment: the poster is lined with a blue cloth. The poster is wrinkled and has a large loss near the upper right corner. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
Before treatment: the poster is lined with a blue cloth. The poster is wrinkled and has a large loss near the upper right corner. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
Conservators placing the lined poster into a large bath of deionized water. Here we see the back of the lining and one corner of the front of the poster. Photo by Pete Smith.
Conservators placing the lined poster into a large bath of deionized water. Here we see the back of the lining and one corner of the front of the poster. Photo by Pete Smith.
Jim Stroud pulls back the lining fabric while holding the poster securely with a tool. Photo by Pete Smith.
Jim Stroud pulls back the lining fabric while holding the poster securely with a tool. Photo by Pete Smith.
Conservators remove the poster from the bath. They are able to handle the wet paper because it is layered between strong sheets of spun polyester, called Reemay. The poster clings to the Reemay as it is pulled from the water. Photo by Pete Smith.
Conservators remove the poster from the bath. They are able to handle the wet paper because it is layered between strong sheets of spun polyester, called Reemay. The poster clings to the Reemay as it is pulled from the water. Photo by Pete Smith.
After bathing, the poster is placed between layers of spun polyester and wool felts to allow it to dry flat. A rigid board is laid over the felts and weights are added. It will stay this way for about a week. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
After bathing, the poster is placed between layers of spun polyester and wool felts to allow it to dry flat. A rigid board is laid over the felts and weights are added. It will stay this way for about a week. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
Filling the loss with toned Japanese paper torn to shape. The fill is applied to the back of the poster with wheat starch paste. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
Filling the loss with toned Japanese paper torn to shape. The fill is applied to the back of the poster with wheat starch paste. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
Tools used for preparing the fill. Mylar with an outline of the loss, Japanese paper to be cut to size, a water pen to help tear the paper with a soft edge, wheat starch paste to adhere the fill in place. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
Tools used for preparing the fill. Mylar with an outline of the loss, Japanese paper to be cut to size, a water pen to help tear the paper with a soft edge, wheat starch paste to adhere the fill in place. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
The fill completed. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
The fill completed. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
After treatment. Photo by Heather Hamilton.
After treatment. Photo by Heather Hamilton.

Filed Under: Art, Conservation, Exhibitions + Events Tagged With: Conservation, paper conservation, posters, propaganda posters, Red Cross, Reemay, The World at War 1914-1918, World War I

Primary Sidebar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_kazYMjNM

Recent Posts

  • Celebrate with us in 2023
  • Photographer Laura Wilson delves into the lives of writers with stunning portraits
  • A childhood gift inspires a lifelong passion for India and map-collecting
  • “Dog” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
  • A Greek fragment is the first-known New Testament papyrus written on the front side of a scroll

Tags

acquisition Alice's Adventures in Wonderland archive archives Art Books Cataloging Conservation Council on Library and Information Resources David Foster Wallace David O. Selznick digitization exhibition Exhibitions Fellows Find Fellowships Film Frank Reaugh Frank Reaugh: Landscapes of Texas and the American West Gabriel Garcia Marquez Gabriel Garcia Marquez archive Gone with the Wind I have seen the Future: Norman Bel Geddes Designs America Lewis Carroll literature Magnum Photos Manuscripts Meet the Staff Nobel Prize Norman Bel Geddes Norman Mailer Performing Arts Photography poetry preservation Publishing Research Robert De Niro Shakespeare theater The King James Bible: Its History and Influence The Making of Gone With The Wind Undergraduate What is Research? World War I

Archives

Before Footer

Sign up for eNews

Our monthly newsletter highlights news, exhibitions, and programs.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

About

Ransom Center Magazine is an online and print publication sharing stories and news about the Harry Ransom Center, its collections, and the creative community surrounding it.

Copyright © 2023 Harry Ransom Center

Web Accessibility · Web Privacy