Diary damaged by fire

A member of the public brought in a diary belonging to his father
that had been badly damaged in a fire.  He is writing a book and
needs information from entries in the diary but unfortunately the
paper appears to have turned to pulp in the centre preventing the
leaves from separating. He had been told that he should put it in a
bowl of water with washing up liquid--an action I have dissuaded
him from doing!  Has anyone had any experience of treating such
damaged material and separating leaves?

Jane Rutherston
Head Book Conservator
V&A Museum
+44 20 7942 2084
Fax: +44 20 7942 2092


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 23:36
                  Distributed: Monday, March 22, 2010
                       Message Id: cdl-23-36-028
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