by Amanda Maloney, Special Collections Conservator at the Weissman Preservation Center
I began my position as Special Collections Conservator for the Harvard Libraries “at” the Weissman Preservation Center on March 23rd, 2020, but I did not step foot into the labs until August 10th, 2020! Conservation is a discipline that relies on close and thorough examinations of collection objects, looking at them under magnification and in various types of light. Getting a sense for the physical feel, and even smell, of an object can tell the trained conservator a lot about its past and inform recommendations for its preservation into the future. Then, of course, there is conservation treatment. Delicate interventions that require direct handling and manipulation of the object. None of this was possible for me for my first 20 weeks and yet my time felt very full!
I was immediately swept into all sorts of Zoom gatherings and felt warmly welcomed and supported by my colleagues. While I missed getting to have in person interactions with them, the interactions were nonetheless personal. I got to know my colleagues in their own homes surrounded by the belongings, people, and pets that make up their lives outside of work.
I was amazed at the amount of on-line classes available through HarvardX and the Harvard Training Portal and took full advantage of improving my computer skills and getting to know the Harvard Library and Museum collections through classes like Women Making History, Tangible Things, and Japanese Books. Additionally, other organizations rose to the task of disseminating information via virtual platforms including the Institute of Conservation (UK), New England Conservation Association, Harvard Art Museums, LYRASIS and many more, which allowed for exchanges across disciplines and geographic boarders. Many of these sparked active discussions with my colleagues at the WPC and provided us with resources, methods, and philosophical frameworks that will serve us well into the future.
This was also an ideal time to explore recent scholarly writing on various materials and conservation techniques. This even lead to some wonderful “Zoom-visits” from the authors of these articles making for excellent discussions and deep engagement with topics such as using pH and conductivity adjusted waters for local and overall treatments, the use of chelators for stain removal, and rigid gels for cleaning works on paper.
An especially enjoyable opportunity came when I was able to do some remote teaching with our interns, Oa Sjoblom, from Buffalo State College, and Jasmine Malone, from Xavier University. I was able to introduce them to some of the key points in identifying different types of photographic processes and how to approach caring for these unique objects. I learned so much from them in the process and was impressed by their excellent questions and enthusiasm.
This time working from home was one of tremendous personal and professional growth. The most profound element of which was an increasing awareness of social justice issues. The Critical Librarianship and Digital Preservation Reading Clubs, the newly founded Preservation Staff Engagement in Anti-Racism Group along with Library wide Anti-racist initiatives have affected me powerfully by lifting the veil of objectivity and neutrality from the work I do. Conservation has always been a collaborative and interdisciplinary field, but it is becoming increasingly clear more needs to be done to really engage and listen to all the stakeholders from institutions and invested communities. Old standards of value should be reassessed to make sure stories of marginalized or repressed groups are heard and preserved. I feel more strongly committed to my work and the responsibility I have to the past, present and future stories the objects I care for tell.
