2025 Brodsky Series for the Advancement of Library Conservation Workshop

Understanding Historic Scrapbooks and Their Preservation

This workshop will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of the different formats and materials used in historic scrapbooks and the common preservation challenges presented by them. The workshop will start with an overview of the history of scrapbooks, their structure, composition, and common challenges, and build on that knowledge with an exploration of the results of an item level condition survey performed on the nearly 400 scrapbooks held by the Student Life and Culture Archives at the University of Illinois. Examples drawn from the Special Collections Research Center of Syracuse University Libraries will also be observed and discussed for preservation challenges and possible solutions. The hands-on afternoon portion of the workshop will focus on approaches for scrapbook preservation including stabilization of brittle support pages with polyester sleeves while allowing for access to booklets and multi-page documents, removing artifacts from various scrapbook page formats, and stabilizing artifacts in-situ.

Due to limited space available onsite for the workshop, advance registration is required by emailing mlwagh@syr.edu. Lunch will be provided for workshop attendees; if you require an accommodation or have dietary needs, please email mlwagh@syr.edu.

All events are free to attend and open to the public.