Fundamentals of Photograph Conservation: A Study Guide

Johanne M. Pelletier is an archivist and Ph.D. candidate in the
Department of History and Philosophy at the Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education.

This study guide is primarily a technical manual for photograph
conservation. Its purpose is to introduce practical photographic
conservation methods by summarizing laboratory experiments and their
theoretical foundations. The guide grew out of the experiences of
National Archives of Canada staff members in teaching the fundamentals
of photograph conservation to students in the Picture Conservation
Division of the National Archives. While the user of this guide need not
have previous experience with the conservation of photographs, formal
training in fine art conservation, photographic technology, or chemistry
would be required to complete the experiments.

Approximately 70 laboratory experiments are included in the guide,
along with accompanying discussions of the aspects of a conservator’s
duties and theoretical principles reflected in each experiment. The
skills covered by these experiments include cleaning and repairing
damaged photographs and negatives; copying and duplicating deteriorating
images; testing materials for stability; and preserving photographic
images for use by researchers. It is important to note that these
experiments are not standard treatments; they were, however, carried out
repeatedly in the National Archives laboratory and found to be ideal
means for teaching photographic conservation.

In general, this guide is inappropriate for novice or amateur
photographers. The laboratory experiments require special facilities and
a considerable degree of knowledge in the areas of photographic
techniques, chemistry, or conservation. The guide may be of interest,
however, to a general audience interested in the history of photography
or in the elements of photographic conservation. There are illustrations
showing the “before” and “after” of the photograph or negative
treated in each of the experiments. The supplemental reading list is
another asset for readers interested in photographic conservation.
Finally, the chapters on darkroom and laboratory equipment and
procedures, and on historical photographic processing, both provide
basic information written in accessible language for a general audience.