Condition Assessment

This collection of over 200 photographic materials was recovered from a tragic July 2021 house fire  in New Holland, Ohio. While many of the family’s photographs were destroyed, these items were recovered by owner Angel Miller, with assistance from neighbors. The photographs range from poor to fair condition (See Appendix 1: Before Treatment Photography). Following recovery this collection has been housed in a large plastic box; smoke odor is minimal.

All the prints exhibit significant to moderate soot, ash and other accretions (mud, dirt, newsprint, etc.) on their surfaces.  Most prints have moderate overall distortion, and many photographs are blocked (or adhered) together. A few prints, including all of the internal dye diffusion transfer prints, have undergone color shifts due to high temperature and possible water damage. Few prints have also undergone water damage resulting in dye bleeding and minor to significant previous mold damage. Other condition issues observed include emulsion loss, emulsion lifting, minor tears, minor to moderate abrasions, and minor skinning.

The two photograph albums have also been damaged by the fire and are in poor condition overall. The c. 1970s spiral bound magnetic album has been burnt along all edges and many pages are blocked together. The more modern, side-stitched green album with clear plastic sleeves has undergone significant water damage resulting in blocked prints and dye bleeding. There may still be water trapped within the sleeves, that may lead to complete emulsion disintegration. Both albums have moderate to significant soot, ash, and other accretions present throughout.

Treatment Rationale

Many of the Miller’s family photographs were destroyed in the fire and these few that remain hold great sentimental value. Many prints contain images of the owner’s mother, grandmother, and grandfather and the magnetic album is believed to contain important images of her two siblings who passed away in 1971 and 1976. As the collection currently exists, it cannot be easily or safely handled or viewed. Without treatment and preventive intervention, the photographs may continue to deteriorate. Stabilization of these images will allow them to be more safely handled and digitized for continued use.

Treamtent Report

Due to the fragile nature of the materials and significant damage endured by the collection overall, some steps may vary as treatment is conducted.

1. Surface clean all prints to remove grime and debris using dry and aqueous methods. Solubility testing will be conducted on materials prior to treatment.
2. Unblock prints to the extent possible using mechanical methods. Humidification or solvents, such as a deionized water bath, may be utilized to ease removal. Some image loss may be unavoidable due to the extent of damage and vulnerability of the photographs’ surfaces.
3. Remove prints from the photograph albums using mechanical methods. The album structures such as the bindings and pages, currently covered in soot and debris, will not be retained. Any information or inscriptions on the pages will be retained or documented and copied.
4. Consolidate lifting emulsion using appropriate methods such as photographic-grade gelatin solutions.
5. Flatten prints to reduce overall distortions, folds, and creases using controlled humidification or heat under blotters, polyester web, glass, and weights.
6. Rehouse all prints in archival quality materials, ensuring all associated information on the current housing is documented and transferred when possible.

Some of the minor treatment steps may be conducted by Morrigan Kelley, recent graduate from the University of Delaware (UD) undergraduate program in Art Conservation, and other UD undergraduate students studying photograph conservation, under the supervision of Ashley Stanford.