TALLADEGA COLLEGE ARCHIVES
Treatment completed January 2023During the first-year Photograph Conservation Block at the beginning of January 2023, the class of 2025 was tasked with the treatment and preservation of more than 120 photographs from the College Archives at Talladega College’s Slavery Library. As a group, we worked to examine, document, stabilize, and rehouse the collection while also strengthening our photograph preservation knowledge and skills. As a second-year fellow, I took on additional treatment responsibilities as well as leading demonstrations creating salted paper and cyanotype prints and leading a lecture and demonstration on disaster recovery of photographic materials.
About Talladega College and The College Archives Collection
The photographic collection from Talladega Archives documents the history and growth of Talladega College, the oldest private Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Alabama. The Archive's goal is to preserve records and items relevant to Talladega College that document the growth and histroy of the college, education, and Black life in Alabama. The Archive’s photograph collection dates back to the inception of Talladega College in 1865 and captures significant moments throughout the last 150 years.
The photographs selected by Perry Trice, Special Collections Librarian/Archivist at Talladega’s Savery Library, document life at the College from the late nineteenth-century to mid-twentieth century. The photographs display a variety of processes (daguerreotype, albumen, collodion, and silver gelatin DOP) and conservation concerns. The photographs we worked with depicted sports teams, campus architecture, class graduations, and scenes around campus. Our collective efforts will help the archives at Talladega College continue their hard work making these images and their stories available for continued and future research and scholarship.
MAJOR TREATMENT PROJECT
Description
The photograph is a collodion print mounted overall to a dark gray mount with plain margins. The mounted photograph is comprised of a toned silver image, collodion binder, paper primary support, and paper secondary support.The image depicts the 1903 Talladega football team . There are numbers printed along the bottom edge of the photograph which correspond to a handwritten label adhered to the verso of the mount adhered with pressure sensitive tape. There are additional inscriptions on the verso top right corner of the mount “TALL-1408” in graphite, “Athletes” in dark ink, “ARCHIVES” stamped in black ink, and upper center “TC/ Phot. 6” in graphite.
Condition Assessment
Most significantly the print and mount is split into two separate fragments. There are minor emulsion losses and lifting associated with this split. The photograph exhibits overall minor image fading and fine cracking of the collodion binder. The print is well adhered to the mount overall. Additionally, the print and mount exhibits overall minor surface grime and the mount has yellow-brown discoloration along the edges, and small losses and tears along the perimeter.Treatment Report
- Reduced surface soil on the verso of the print using a soft brush, polyurethane cosmetic sponges, mild-enzymatic solution, and deionized water applied with cotton swabs.
- Removed paper label on mount using mechanical methods. The label was saved to be treated later.
- Unmounted print using mechanical methods.
- Removed the upper layers of the mount and adhesive residues from the verso of the print in an aqueous bath.
- Dried the print flat between non-woven polyester fabric, blotters, and matboard under weight.
- Lined the print using a lightweight Japanese paper and wheat starch paste. Tear was aligned on a light table.
- Dried the print flat between non-woven polyester fabric, blotters, and mat board under weight.
- Trimmed the Japanese paper lining to the edge of the print.
- Mended the paper label using remoistenable tissue reactivated with Klucel G in ethanol.
- Rehoused print and paper label in polyester L-sleeve with cardstock support. Mount remnants were also returned to owner.
Before Treatment Photography
During Treatment Photography
After Treatment Photography
ADDITIONAL TREATMENT PROJECTS
Removal of torn photo-corners
This treatment included overall surface cleaning using microfiber cloth followed with 50:50 ethanol and deionized water. Cleaned verso with grated erasers. Removed black photocorners with a methylcellulose poultice and mechanical action. Rehoused in new polyester L-sleeve.
Surface cleaning and tear mending
Treatment included surface cleaning recto microfiber cloth followed with 50:50 ethanol and deionized water. Cleaned verso with grated erasers. Consolidated areas of liftin emulsion using 2% warm gelatin solution under magnification. Mended tears using wheat starch paste and Japanese paper mends applied to the verso. Set under weights and blotters to dry. Rehoused in new polyester L-sleeve. Large area of loss was not addressed to the use of the photographic materials and time allotted for treatment. TEACHING EXPERIENCE
SALTED PAPER AND CYANOTYPE PRINTING
1 hour lecture and demonstration of the Salted Paper POP process. Students were then invited to work in Winterthur’s darkroom to create their own salted paper prints. I also compiled and tested cyanotype making materials for students to also be able to create cyanotype prints.︎︎︎ Salted Paper Prints Handout
![First-year students practicing salvaging water-damaged photographs. Image by Debbie Hess Norris]()
![Discussing approaches to the recovery of fire-damaged photographs. Image by Debbie Hess Norris]()
![Handout created for teaching]()
DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
1.5 hour lecture and demonstration of disaster response and recovery of photographic materials with a large focus on water events. Began with a conversation with the class about how photographs may respond to water. Emphasis was placed on thinking about their own photographs they have been treating over the past 2.5 weeks. After talking through recovery concerns, we then practiced recovering a box of study collection materials that were immersed in water for demonstration purposes. Overall it was a successful class experience with thoughful conversations and hands-on learning. 
︎︎︎ Water Damage Recovery of Photographic Materials Handout
![Demonstrating inpainting techniques. Image by Debbie Hess Norris]()
PHOTOGRAPH IDENTIFICATION & TREATMENT CONSULTANTS
Throughout the block I was available for consultants on photograph identification and treatment projects. With students I helped them determine their photographic materials through visual and microscope examination and provide resources and other examples when neccessary. Treatment consultants included demonstrating photograph unmounting, washing, lining, humidification, mending, and aesthetic compensation techniques. 
Photo by Evan Krape