1934 Sub-Arctic Expedition Journal is Conserved, Digitized and Prepared for Archival Storage

Journal before treatmentThe 1934 historic memoirs of a sub-Arctic expedition have been conserved by Emilie van der Hoorn, Conservator of Paper. A hand-written diary and typewritten copies are held by the University of Northern British Columbia. The NBCA’s conservation treatment project was partially funded by an anonymous private foundation, and FSR is very pleased to have been chosen for this project.

In 1934, French-born American millionaire Charles Bedaux, embarked upon an expedition to cross 2,300 kilometers of unmapped northern British Columbia (BC) territory east of the Rocky Mountains, using the then newly designed Citroën halftrack vehicles. He initiated one of the most extravagantly equipped overland parties ever seen, which included a fleet of automobiles, 130 packhorses, 53 Canadian cowboys, 400 pounds of books, more than 20 tons of supplies, 2 professional surveyors, a geologist, and a film crew led by Oscar-winning Hollywood cinematographer, Floyd Crosby. A hand-written diary and typed notes survived from the expedition, created by A.H. (Al) Phipps, one of the surveying crew members. The documents record his observations about the terrain, surveying activities, and ultimately the causes for the expedition’s failure – all rare evidence of an internationally known event.

Cleaning – the documents were dry surface cleaned followed by immersion washing. The rust stains were treated with a chelating agent to stop the degradation and reduce their appearance. The sheets were then alkalized to neutralize acids and deposit an alkaline buffer in the paper to promote future preservation.
Cleaning – the documents (shown here are the typed copies of the diary) were dry surface cleaned followed by immersion washing.
The rust stains were treated with a chelating agent to stop the degradation and reduce their appearance. The sheets were then alkalized to neutralize acids and deposit an alkaline buffer in the paper to promote future preservation.
Repair – wheat starch paste and Japanese tissue to support tears and losses.
Repair – wheat starch paste and Japanese tissue were used to support tears and losses in the diary pages. Where embrittled by rust and folding, page margins were also strengthened using repair strips.

Digitization – the documents were scanned on a professional imaging scanner and presented to the archives with appropriate quality and metadata to allow for access by researchers.
Digitization – the documents were scanned on a professional imaging scanner for increased accessibility. Format, resolution and metadata were in accordance with the UNBC’s standards.
Archival storage – the documents are prepared for long-term preservation storage. The pages are inteleafed with acid-free, buffered paper and placed in a custom-made rag matte clamshell housing.
Archival storage – the documents are prepared for long-term preservation storage. The pages are interleaved with acid-free, buffered paper and placed in a custom-made rag matte clamshell housing.
Written on a poor quality woodpulp paper, the journal pages were extremely brittle and discoloured with small tears and cracks forming throughout. Water damage had resulted in bleeding and strikethrough of the writing ink and ruled lines. Staples binding the journal were corroded and caused ferrous staining imbedded in the paper. The pages are much cleaner and are chemically stable. Suppleness has been returned to the sheets allowing them to be safely handled without cracking or tearing. The bled ink was reduced that allows the written inks increased clarity and readability. To retain the original character of a book, the journal was rebound with interleaving pages to slow future deterioration.
Before treatment (left): Written on a poor quality wood pulp paper, the diary pages were extremely brittle and discoloured with small tears and cracks forming throughout. Water damage had resulted in bleeding and strike-through of the writing ink and ruled lines. Metal staples binding the diary were corroded which imbedded ferrous staining deep into the paper.
After treatment (right): The pages are much cleaner and are chemically stable. Suppleness has been returned to the sheets allowing them to be safely handled without cracking or tearing. The bled ink was reduced that allows the written inks increased clarity and readability. To retain the original character of a book, the journal was rebound but with the addition of interleaving pages to slow future deterioration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Detail of the typewritten document.
Detail of the typewritten document.