Course on removing pressure-sensitive tape

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic
Works, in partnership with the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center,
presents a "Master Studies" Workshop:

"Removal of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes and Tape Stains"
The Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center, Omaha, Nebraska
October 20-24, 2003, 9am-5pm
Instructors:  Elissa O'Loughlin and Linda Stiber Morenus
Course Fee: $600 AIC members; $750 non-members
Enrollment Limit: 12
Registration Deadline: September 13, 2003

This program is designed for mid-career conservators.  Participants
may be selected based on order of receipt of registration, training,
experience, balance of institutional and private practice
conservators, number of registrants from a single organization, and
geography.  Early registration is advised.

Workshop Description: Pressure-sensitive tapes, often used to repair
tears and losses, may cause valuable documents and art work to be
stained, embrittled and cockled. The aged appearance of such tapes
may completely obscure tonal variations and distort the appearance
of media. However, removal of pressure-sensitive tapes can be a
complex treatment that may pose risks to the health of both the
worker and the object. This 5-day course includes both lecture and
hands-on sessions using a range of treatment options for the removal
of pressure-sensitive tapes and the reduction of tape stains. During
the practical sessions, a range of aged, mock documents will be used
to demonstrate and practice various techniques. Additionally,
participants are encouraged to bring expendable items with tape
and/or tape stains for treatment. The course will include:

Lectures about the history and technology of pressure sensitive
tapes from 1928 to the present, including descriptions of both
rubber-based and acrylic-based adhesives. The lectures will give an
overview of the problems associated with pressure-sensitive tape
use. Identification of tapes, including lecture sessions with
diagnostic charts and practical sessions with a variety of samples.
Case histories of tape removal projects. A review of treatment
options employing heat, solvents, poultices, suction devices, etc.
Practical sessions on the treatment of a selection of naturally and
artificially aged samples. Experimental treatments on mock documents
and expendable items. The necessary range of small tools and
solvents will be provided; however, participants are encouraged to
bring a good-fitting solvent vapor mask and a kit of specialized
tools they have found useful.

Elissa O'Loughlin is Senior Paper Conservator at the Walters Art
Museum in Baltimore Maryland. She previously held the post of Senior
Conservator at the National Archives and Records Administration. She
received the majority of her training at the bench augmented by
conservation classes at the Smithsonian, the University of London,
and SAAR (now NICH).

Linda Stiber Morenus received her M.A. and Certificate of Advanced
Study from the Art Conservation Department of the State University
of New York, College at Buffalo in 1986.  She worked at the Folger
Shakespeare Library, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian
Institution's National Portrait Gallery prior to 1991, when she took
her current position as Senior Paper Conservator at the Library of
Congress, Washington, D.C.

About the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center: The Gerald R. Ford
Conservation Center is a regional conservation center for the care
of cultural materials. It was founded in 1995 as a division of the
Nebraska State Historical Society. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the
Ford Conservation Center houses state-of-the-art technical
laboratories for the examination, evaluation, and specialized
conservation treatment of ceramics, glass, metals, ethnographic
materials, archeological materials, wooden artifacts, works of art
on paper, photographs, documents, archival materials, books, and
textiles.

About Omaha: Omaha is served by many major airlines, with nonstop
service from dozens of cities.  A special rate of $63 per night at
the Omaha Hilton has been arranged for participants, along with
shuttle service to and from the airport and workshop location, so a
car is not needed.  Other hotels in a variety of price ranges are
available.   October weather is mild, with normal highs in the 60's
and lows in the 40's.  Travel and lodging information will be sent
to all applicants upon acceptance into the workshop.  General
information can be found at <URL:http://www.visitomaha.com/>

This program is funded by the FAIC Endowment for Professional
Development, which is supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
and by contributions from members of the American Institute for
Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.

For more information, contact:

    Eric Pourchot
    Program Officer, Professional Development
    American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic
        Works
    1717 K Street, NW  Suite 200
    Washington, DC  20006
    202-452-9545, ext. 12
    Fax: 202-452-9328
    Epourchot [at] aic-faic__org


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:7
                   Distributed: Friday, June 27, 2003
                        Message Id: cdl-17-7-008
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