#  Disaster Recovery of Flood Damaged Glass Plates 

 



####  calendar\_today Date and Time 

 **April 8, 2019** 

 01:00PM - 02:00PM EDT 

####  pin\_drop Location 

 **Lamont Library Forum Room**  



 

 



 

 Conservators are regularly faced with the possibility and/or reality of collections emergencies which call on their collective experience, preparation, and knowledge. Just such an emergency occurred in January 2016 when the basement level of the Plate Stacks at the Harvard College Observatory was found submerged under three feet of murky water due to a city water main break. Approximately 60,000 glass plate negatives dating from 1886-1992 were at risk of permanent damage from mold growth, emulsion loss, and embedded particulates due to prolonged submersion in water. More than just an archive of historic images, the Observatory glass plates are still in use by researchers today and the collection is considered one of the most important resources for astrophysicist working world-wide. This talk will share an overview of the collaborative emergency response efforts by Harvard staff and the methods necessary to recover these inherently fragile items valued for their scientific data. Representatives from the Harvard College Observatory and Harvard Library Preservation Services will be on hand to answer questions.



 

 



 

 

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