About Photograph Conservation at NEDCC
NEDCC performs expert conservation treatment of a wide range of photographic materials, from landmark historic images to family heirlooms and celebrated works of art to archival collections. Types of photographs treated in the Paper Conservation Laboratory include:
- Black and white prints (albumen, salted paper, gelatin silver, platinum, etc.)
- Color prints
- Crayon enlargements
- Panoramas
- Cased photographs (tintypes, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes)
- Glass plate negatives
- Film-based negatives
Different levels of conservation treatment are sometimes available. The choice of treatment depends not only on the condition of the artifact, but also on other factors such as its future use, storage or display conditions, aesthetic or historic content, predicted outcome of the treatment, and the client's budget.
Common treatments for photographs may include: flattening of rolled or distorted photographs; surface cleaning to reduce superficial dirt; removal of mold; elimination of self-adhesive tapes and other repairs; removal of harmful mounts; consolidation of cracked or flaking emulsion or applied media; aqueous treatment to reduce acidity, deterioration products, discoloration, and stains; mending tears; filling areas of loss; lining fragile or fragmentary objects with Japanese or western papers; and mounting on museum board to preserve the surface of historic mounts while eliminating harmful mount cores.
Cosmetic treatments for works with aesthetic value may include: stain reduction; filling losses with matching paper; removal of prior disfiguring restoration work; and inpainting (retouching) areas of image loss. These non-essential treatments are performed at the discretion of the client. Various rehousing options are available, including polyester film encapsulation, museum-quality mounting and matting, and construction of special enclosures to support fragile and distorted photographs. NEDCC offers custom archival-quality framing in new frames, or reframing in existing frames.
If treatment is not practical, digitization, or digital restoration of historic prints or negatives may be a logical and cost-effective alternative. Preservation of the original artifact together with the production of a digitally restored version may offer the best solution in some instances. Digital services can be provided by NEDCC’s Imaging Services department.
For information on obtaining a conservation treatment proposal
Conservation Services for Cultural Institutions
Conservation Services for Private and Family Collections
For information on shipping
Packing and shipping instructions are available here
Questions?
| E-mail Michael Lee, Director of Paper and Photograph Conservation (978) 470-1010, ext. 228 |
E-mail Monique Fischer, Senior Photograph Conservator (978) 470-1010, ext. 229 |
Learn More
Visit AIC for information about the field of conservation including:
Northeast Document Conservation Center
100 Brickstone Square
Andover, MA 01810
Phone: 978-470-1010
Fax: 978-475-6021
Email: info@nedcc.org
NEDCC Staff Portal 