SCHOOL OF INFORMATION
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
TECHNOLOGY AND STRUCTURE OF RECORDS MATERIALS
INF 392E Fall 2010
Unique # 27970
Wednesday, 9-12, UTA 1.504 and UTA 1.506B
Lecturer: Karen Pavelka, UTA 5.422
Office hours: Wednesday 1-3 and by appointment
Email: pavelka@ischool.utexas.edu
Office phone: 471-8286
Course Overview:
Underlying factors in the physical nature of records materials; concepts of permanence and durability
and their assessment; introduction to paper technology and characteristics; other materials found in library,
archive and museum collections, especially photographic processes. Context of conservation and preservation
practice.
Objectives:
1. To impart understanding of the materials frequently encountered in library, archives and museum
collections through emphasis on common, underlying factors in stability and deterioration.
2. To allow the student to gain an understanding of the conservation and preservation literature.
3. To emphasize the importance of understanding materials generically rather than by trade names and
manufacturers' or distributors' claims.
4. The viewpoint of discussion of each material will be primarily on "inherent vice," chemical instability
that leads to unduly rapid deterioration, and on identification.
5. Secondary emphasis will be placed on methods of fabrication, especially as they relate to durability
or physical toughness of materials.
6. Historical development of materials will be discussed especially where it is relevant to
understanding the range of materials likely to be encountered and where it bears on lasting qualities.
Required texts
Benson, R. (2008). The printed picture. New York: Museum of Modern Art.
Lavedrine, B. (2003). In A guide to the preventive conservation of photograph collections (pp. 3-142). Los
Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute.
Jurgens, M. (2009). The digital print: Identification and preservation. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute.
Research Paper
A research paper is required for this class. The objective of the paper is to provide you with experience
in framing a question about the nature of materials, becoming familiar with the resources available for
conservation and preservation technology, evaluating citations critically, and communicating with colleagues.
It is an opportunity to read about something that interests you. The topic must be approved by the
instructor. You may want to look at the papers from previous years before selecting a topic.
The paper will be submitted in four stages:

The topic will be chosen by September 8. Students will post their thesis question or statement
to Blackboard where it will be shared with other class members.

A complete paper including the bibliography is due MONDAY November 8. This version of the
paper is to be posted on Blackboard and shared with the rest of the class. This version will not be
graded; it is intended to promote an exchange of ideas and observations.

November 17 Each student will lead a discussion about his or her research. The discussion might
include a brief summary of the work; impediments or successes encountered, especially if you found a
School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin
Karen L. Pavelka, Lecturer

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useful research technique or source; suggested areas for further research; others areas as
appropriate. The format may vary according to class size. The presentation is 15% of your final
grade for the class.
The final copy is due November 24; please post directly to Blackboard. This version will be
graded and counts for 20% of your final grade for the class. Paper copies will be kept on file in UTA
1.506 (Lab Ante Room) for reference for future students unless individual students request
otherwise.
Object observation
Each student will “adopt” an object from a local collection. The student will investigate the object to
determine its physical characteristics, concentrating on inherent vice. Students will write a one-page
summary of the material composition of the object, the related vulnerabilities, and suggest appropriate
storage and exhibition methods for the object. Students are cautioned to select something for which it is
possible to find appropriate information. Grades will be based on the complexity of the object, and the quality
of the final report. The summary is due Wednesday, December 1.
Article presentation
Each student is required to present one article to the rest of the class. Students will be assigned a date to
present and the article should relate to either the class topic for the day, or the student’s “adopted” object.
Each student will select an article and distribute copies to the class at least one week before the assigned
presentation date. The student will then lead a discussion of the article focusing on the significant points,
successful arguments or flawed assumptions, how the article contributes to the existing body of literature, etc.
All class members are responsible for reading each article, but the presenter will read much more carefully
and critically than other class members. The presentation will be graded on choice of article and how well the
information is presented.
Quizzes
There will be one quiz for printing process identification and one for photo process identification. They
do not count toward your grade.
Useful dates to remember
September 8:
November 8: (Monday)
November 17:
November 24:
December 1:
December 1:
To be assigned:
Research proposal due; post directly to Blackboard. Students are strongly
advised to meet with the instructor before submitting a proposal. Please note
there are only 8 ½ weeks until the written paper is submitted.
Written paper and bibliography are due. Please post directly to Blackboard.
Students are expected to read all the class papers before November 17 and be
prepared to offer comments and suggestions. You may choose to ask for
comments on specific issues or sections of your work.
Discussion of class papers. Collegial. Food provided.
Final papers due; post directly to Blackboard.
Summary of “adopted” object due.
Photo process identification quiz.
Individual article presentations.
Grading
Grade points will be distributed as follows:
Research paper
Paper presentation
Object observation
Article presentation
Quizzes
Attendance and participation
20%
20%
20%
20%
Zero%, but you still have to take them
20%
School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin
Karen L. Pavelka, Lecturer
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<<<<< Class 1 - 25 August >>>>>
Introduction
Grann, David. (2010) The mark of a masterpiece. The New Yorker, July 12 – 19. Available on-line through UT
Libraries.
Greene, V. (2006). Using case studies to examine the decision-making process for cleaning ethnographic
objects. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 45, 183-199. Available through JSTOR at:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/40026690?cookieSet=1
Panagiaris, Georgios, Mertzani, Maria; Malea, Ekaterini; and Maniatis, Nikolaos. (2008) Towards a binding
code of ethics for the conservation and display of human remains. In 15th triennial conference, New Delhi, 2226 September 2008: preprints/ICOM Committee for Conservation. Bridgland, Janet (Editor). ICOM Committee
for Conservation pp. 364-369.
NPR (2009) This kilogram has a weight loss problem. Retrieved August 4, 2009, from
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112003322
Valentine,Jason; Li, Jensen; Zentgraf, Thomas; Bartal, Guy; and Zhang, Xiang (2009) "An optical cloak made of
dielectrics" Nature Materials, 8, 568 view pdf
Will Mona Lisa smile more when she’s clean? The science of art conservation. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from
http://www.scientificblogging.com/scientific_notation/will_mona_lisa_smile_more_when_shes_clean
_the_science_of_art_conservation
<<<<< Class 2 - 1 September >>>>>
Examination
Olympus. Microscopy Resource Center. Retrieved August 4, 2010, from
http://www.olympusmicro.com/index.html
Read (at least) the following sections:
Home page > Physics of Light and Color > Sources of Physical Light > Introduction to Visible Light Sources
http://www.olympusmicro.com/primer/lightandcolor/lightsourcesintro.html
Home page > Physics of Light and Color > Primary Colors > Introduction to Primary Colors
http://www.olympusmicro.com/primer/lightandcolor/primarycolorsintro.html
Home page > Microscopy Basic Concepts > Introduction > Anatomy of the Microscope
http://www.olympusmicro.com/primer/anatomy/introduction.html
Home page > Special Techniques > Polarized Light Microscopy > Polarization of Light
http://www.olympusmicro.com/primer/lightandcolor/polarization.html
Odegaard Microchemical tests
<<<<< Class 3 - 8 September >>>>>
Agents of Deterioration
Canadian Conservation Institute. Ten agents of deterioration. Retrieved August 4, 2010, from http://www.cciicc.gc.ca/crc/articles/mcpm/index-eng.aspx
Read the following sections:
Deterioration by Light, UV and IR (Read to “Control of Light”)
http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/crc/articles/mcpm/chap08-eng.aspx#Deterioration
Pollutants (Only need to read chart at top of page.)
http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/crc/articles/mcpm/chap07-eng.aspx#Pollutants
Deterioration by Incorrect Temperature, and the Most Vulnerable Collections (Read to Sources of Incorrect
Temperature.)
School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin
Karen L. Pavelka, Lecturer
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http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/crc/articles/mcpm/chap09-eng.aspx#Deterioration
Deterioration by Incorrect Relative Humidity, and the Most Vulnerable Collections (Read to Sources of
Incorrect Relative Humidity.)
http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/crc/articles/mcpm/chap10-eng.aspx
<<<<< Class 4 - 15 September >>>>>
Manuscripts, Books and Prints
Meet at Blanton
Krill, J. (2002). Introduction. In English artists’ paper: Renaissance to regency (pp. 1-41). Winterthur, Delaware:
Oak Knoll.
Schweidler, M. (2007). Paper manufacture. In R. Perkinson (Ed. & Trans.), The restoration of engravings,
drawings, books and other works of paper (pp. 41-45). Los Angeles: Getty.
Stephens, C. H., Barrett, T., Whitmore, P.M., Wade, J., Mazurek, J., & Schilling, M. (2009). Composition and
condition of naturally aged papers. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 47, 201-216.
Periodic table videos. Retrieved August 6, 2010, from http://www.periodicvideos.com/#
Stephens, Catherine H.; Whitmore, Paul M.; Morris, Hannah R.; and Bier, Mark E. Hydrolysis of the amorphous
cellulose in cotton-based paper. Biomacromolecules 9, no. 4 (2008), pp. 1093-1099
KB Web Exhibits. Retrieved August 6, 2010 from http://www.kb.nl/menu/webexposities-en.html#EDBBCA
<<<<< Class 5 - 22 September >>>>>
Manuscripts, Books and Prints
Ball, P. (2001). In Bright earth: Art and the invention of color (pp. 24-71). New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Chioco, K., & Elder, R. (n.d.). Conserving Texas history [Video]. Retrieved August 6, 2010, School of Information,
University of Texas at Austin Web site: http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/%7El381ss02/index.html
Digital print identification (2004). Retrieved July 16, 2009, from http://aic.stanford.edu/sg/emg/juergens/
Lussier, S. M., & Smith, G. D. (2008). A review of the phenomenon of lead white darkening and its conversion
treatment. Reviews in Conservation, 8, 41-53.
Mills, J. S., & White, R. (1994). Dyestuffs and other coloured materials. In The organic chemistry of museum
objects (pp. 141-159). Oxford: Butterworths.
Pigments through the ages. (n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2010, from http://www.webexhibits.org/pigments/
Microscopy. Small world image gallery. Retrieved August 6, 2010, from
http://www.microscopyu.com/smallworld/gallery/contests/2009/index.html
What is a print? Retrieved July 16, 2009, from
http://www.moma.org/interactives/projects/2001/whatisaprint/flash.html
Benson, R. (2008). The printed picture. New York: Museum of Modern Art.
<<<<< Class 6 - 29 September >>>>>
School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin
Karen L. Pavelka, Lecturer
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Manuscripts, Books and Prints
Accurate assessments
MacGuire, Frances. “Paper Recycling: Exposing the Myths.” Friends of the Earth.
November 1997.
<http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/paper_recycling.html>.
Slim Chips (2008). Retrieved July 16, 2009 from http://hafsteinnjuliusson.com/index.php?/projects/slimchips/
Lunder, Sonya,Houlihan, Jane Synthetic extrogen BPA coats cash register receipts Environmental Working Group.
Retrived August 6, 2010 from http://www.ewg.org/bpa-in-store-receipts
<<<<< Class 7 - 6 October >>>>>
Plastics
Eyre, Charlotte. (2009) Plastics conservation: The race against time. Retrieved August 6, 2010 from
http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com/subscriber/featured2.html?cat=1&featuredid=1253609706
Kean, Sam. (2009) Does plastic last forever? Slate. Retrieved August 6, 2010 from
http://www.slate.com/id/2221963/
<<<<< Class 8 - 13 October >>>>>
Photographic Processes
Overview: Basic composition
Lavedrine, B. (2003). In A guide to the preventive conservation of photograph collections (pp. 3-142). Los
Angeles: Getty.
Frey, F., Heller, D., Kushel, D., Vitale, T., Warda, J., & Weaver, G. (2008). The AIC guide to digital photography
and conservation documentation (J. Warda, Ed.). Washington, DC: AIC.
Wilhelm imaging research. Retrieved August 6, 2010, from http://www.wilhelm-research.com/index.html
<<<<< Class 9 - 20 October >>>>>
Photographic Processes
Appreciations and Identification
<<<<< Class 10 - 27 October >>>>>
Photographic Processes
Appreciation and Identification
<<<<< Class 11 - 3 November >>>>>
Beyond the visible
Audio, Electronic, Etc.
Friedlander, A., Flecker, D., Romano, F., Lyman, P., Brylawski, S., Ide, M., et al. (2002). Building a national
strategy for digital preservation: Issues in digital media archiving. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from CLIR
Web site: http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub106/contents.html
School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin
Karen L. Pavelka, Lecturer
Frost, H., (Ed.). (2008). Audio preservation. Retrieved July 16, 2009, from Conservation On-Line (COOL) Web
site: http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/bytopic/audio/
Digital media and nuclear disaster: An animation. Retrieved August 6, 2010, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbBa6Oam7-w
<<<<< Class 12 - 10 November >>>>>
Paintings and Objects
Visit Catherine’s Studio?
<<<<< Class 13 - 17 November >>>>>
Discuss papers
<<<<< Class 14 - 24 November >>>>>
Day before Thanksgiving
<<<<< Class 15 1 December >>>>>
Wrap up
Photo id quiz
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