CAKE BUNNY: 2022

Sunday, July 17, 2022

Some of my favorites!

So many smiles, so little time.

Cass loves smiling for the camera!

When asked the question, "what does an archivist do?" I smile and a million different tasks race throughout my brain. Do I simply say, “We manage collections while keeping them safe, secure, and accessible?” Because the truth is that an archivist does a lot more than simply watch over a collection. They work with preservation, and institution staff, and deal with administrative issues and technological dilemmas. They even deal with digital collections and will often need to know how certain systems work, so they can organize and handle digital content. Additionally, there are two types of archives that an archivist may work for, and sometimes they are combined. The first is an institutional archive where the focus is documentation of an organization, like a company’s employee records. The second is a collecting archive where the focus is beyond the archive and based on a theme, like the Autry Museum of the American West, which holds a vast collection of photographs, maps, art, and books about the American Southwest. So, we can see that there are many different places that need archivists, and they can work in museums, universities, or even businesses. Each archival department has set standards and policies that need to be followed when dealing with collections. While each archive is different and works within its policies, archivists share the task of overseeing the entire life cycle of a record. They are needed anywhere that important records are being kept and used for research.

Someone may ask, “what constitutes a collection?” To better understand archivists, we need to discuss what archives are. Archives are documentation of life. They are collections of documents that help tell the history of whoever created them. They are not a collection of rare books, by themselves. Collections are correspondence, photographs, notebooks, scrapbooks, and other valuable records. An important thing to know is that not everything belongs in an archive. It is up to the archivist to determine if a collection needs to be saved. Again, this coincides with the policies set by the archive taking in the collection. For example, the Autry Museum would take in a collection of photographs and letters from 1850 to 1865. They would not take a collection of photographs from Germany during the same time frame. That would go against the archive’s main directive. The items that are being assessed must hold value and worth to the specific archive, in order to be accepted. Another way to think about the role of an archivist is that, while libraries deal with collections on an item level, like a single book, archivists deal with groups. These groups, or collections, have already served their main purpose and can now be assessed by archivists to either be destroyed or saved. While doing their assessment, archivists will look over an entire collection of records, instead of each one. Going over individual records would be tedious and not in the archivist's best interest.

Most collections can also be referenced with additional security measures. Archivists help researchers and patrons to access collections safely and securely. Items in a collection cannot be loaned out, like a library book. They need to stay at the archive. Archivists will use interviews with researchers to better understand what a researcher is looking for and often assist them in understanding and handling a collection. These open-ended questions are meant to help researchers narrow down what they are looking for. The types of questions may include (when referring to a collection), who needed this information? When was this information collected? How was information recorded? How will this information be used? And my favorite question is, how much time is available for research? I like this last question because it benefits both the researcher and archivist. When a timeline is established, we can judge how much time is needed to find collection items, to set up secure viewing, and the pace at which the researcher is working. There may be additional materials that are needed or other collections that could be of use. Archivists will also have continued interactions with researchers and often conduct exit interviews. These exit interviews help archivists understand what was helpful for researchers. They can go over finding aids and evaluate sources that were utilized.

So now that we know what an archivist is, why is it important? Why are maintaining archival collections valuable? Simply, records and collections are a part of us. Every collection created holds information about life, our experience, and our culture. Without records, we wouldn’t be able to look back at examples of life in previous decades. On a smaller scale, records for a company are important so there are examples of staff information and company policies. By holding onto information, we are creating pathways for future researchers and people to obtain knowledge. Archivists help to keep these collections safe for future use. I recently went to the Hans Christian Anderson Museum in Solvang California. This small museum is in The Book Loft, which serves as a local bookstore. The museum holds hundreds of rare and unique Hans Christian Anderson records, but it doesn’t look like researchers would have access to the items. The museum may have an archivist on staff to manage the collection, even if they are not allowing researcher access. The museum still needs someone with archival knowledge to collect, organize and secure a collection of Anderson’s work. This museum holds many rare books; however, it does also include correspondence and other valuable records. If researchers need access to records, they will likely expand their search, by either traveling across the pond to the Denmark Hans Christian Andersen Museum or through online archival websites. The Library of Congress repository has a web archive for the Hans Christian Andersen Museum website that are easily accessible. The web archive holds access to over 8,800 letters and reflections that belonged to the author. Here, records are still secure but may be viewed all over the world. It is the job of the archivist on staff to oversee the digital collections and field questions from researchers.

In summary, an archivist works to organize and protect valuable collections. They work in institutional archives or in collecting archives and follow set policies to determine collection values. Archivists help researchers access and decipher collection items while keeping records organized and secure. The work that archivists do is important because without them managing important collections, these stories and records would be lost to time and environmental impact.

Here are some references and links for additional information.

Autry Museum of the American West. 2022. https://theautry.org/

Book Loft Solvang. Hans Christian Andersen Museum. 2022. https://www.bookloftsolvang.com/hca-museum

Library of Congress. 2022. https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0004039/

Monday, April 25, 2022

The Friends of Notre Dame de Paris

Shelley Murray

Info 259

Preservation Management

3/29/2022

2019 Notre Dame Cathedral Fire

Late in the day on April 15th, 2019, a fire broke out beneath the roof of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, France. The New York Times reported, “within moments, tiny bits of white smoke started rising from the spire — which, at 295 feet, was the highest part of the cathedral” (Nossiter & Breeden, 2019). The cathedral had been undergoing much-needed renovations, which unfortunately left hazardous substances in the open, including scaffolding and flammable materials. The fire sparked immediate headlines as the cathedral is an important French monument and tourist location, “tourists and residents alike came to a standstill, pulling out their phones to call their loved ones. Older Parisians began to cry, lamenting how their national treasure was quickly being lost” (Nossiter & Breeden, 2019). The cause of the fire is still up for speculation but now, years later, an inquiry into the fire has found that the cause may have been six electronic bells that were hung throughout the spire and roof. The cathedral's clergy had insisted on having bells chime, even during renovations, which went against safety regulations. Three medium-sized bells were put up in 2007 and three more in 2021. The temporary bells may have short-circuited, igniting the spire and roof. Investigators initially thought that sparks or heat must have come from the worker's tools, however after interviews with the Le Bras frere, the company that had been working on the spire, “confirmed that there was no heat source in the spire or the roof” (Thompson, 2021). Stating that, “nothing, no welding, no cutting, no grinding; I am positive” occurred, (Thompson, 2021). Efforts to combat the flames included using deluge guns at low pressure to not cause further damage to the cathedral. The integrity of the Notre Dame cathedral was at the forefront of staff and firefighters’ minds, even while fighting an increasingly dangerous blaze, leading responders not to use helicopters or aerial water-dropping because it could cause structural damage. With about 500 firefighters and numerous public servants working quickly and tirelessly the flames were under control by 11:00 pm but the cathedral was left with torched wood and a significant hole in its center.

Damage to the Notre Dame cathedral was concentrated in the center of the structure, affecting the spire, transept roof with ribbed vaulting, and high alter. The spire, which is also known as la fléche or arrow, was destroyed in the blaze. In a bit of luck, the 16 copper statues that normally surround the spire, had been removed 4 days prior for restoration. Rescuers were worried about the fire reaching the rose window but fortunately, the stained glass was spared. “Mr. Gallet, the fire chief, said firefighters were still rescuing artworks in the building, hours after the fire had started. The main risk, he said, was the smoke within the cathedral, and the fall of materials, including melting lead.” With not only the cathedral itself at risk but “also to the gargoyles that cover its walls and to the stained glass, particularly its “rose” windows,” (Nossiter & Breeden, 2019). First responders were able to rescue most artwork and relics including a linen fabric associated with Saint Louis, the Holy Crown of Thorns, and the cathedral's treasury. These relics were taken to Paris City Hall for safe keeping. In Smithsonian Magazine, Katz (2019), noted that four large 17th and 18th-century paintings depicting the apostles were partially damaged and a fragment of the Crown of Thorns and relics from two saints have been destroyed. The paintings will be taken to the Louvre to be “treated and restored” (Marshall et al, 2019).

Notre Dame Cathedral Damage. (2022). [Illustration]. NBC. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/notre-dame-fire-what-was-damaged-n995371

Three years later, restoration of the Notre Dame cathedral is still underway, with the French government intending to reopen to hold service by 2024. All restoration plans go through an advisory council with the National Commission for Heritage and Architecture making approvals. Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris is the official group and charity leading international fundraising efforts to rebuild and restore Notre-Dame cathedral. The Friends of Notre Dame de Paris have been working with “the Archdiocese of Paris, the Foundation Notre-Dame in France, and with the Public Agency in charge of the preservation and the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris” (Friends of Notre Dame de Paris, 2021).

In 2019 the main goal was to protect staff during clean-up and safeguard against any further damage. Friends of Notre Dame de Paris included this safety work as the most important: “installing a tarp above the vaults to protect from rain, lead decontamination, fortifying the north, south and west gables, especially to protect the 3 large rose windows, fortifying the most damaged pillars of the nave, reinforcing the flying buttresses, wrapping and protecting the gargoyles and other sculptural elements of the north and south towers and removing burnt and melted scaffolding that had previously surrounded the spire” (2019). With scaffolding removed the cathedral has been placed under a sort of umbrella structure to protect against the elements and workers are starting to focus on other areas of the cathedral. For any damage to the rib vaults work is handled by stonemasons and “consists of applying plaster in the gaps and the exposed ends of the stones. For more fragile pieces of the vaults, plaster will be reinforced with fiberglass” (Friends of Notre Dame de Paris, 2021).

By November and December, two projects were completed: removing all burned scaffolding and the Grand Organ was dismantled and removed. This was completed about a month ahead of schedule. The Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris (2019) stated that “the Grand Organ’s pipes will now be taken for repair and extensive cleaning to remove lead dust that settled in the aftermath of the fire. The restoration work, organ reassembly, and tuning are projected to finish by April 2024”. With the interior of the cathedral cleared out of damaged scaffolding, new supports can be built to help protect the vault walls and provide much-needed support during restoration. Oak trees have already been selected and harvested for the spire and the section of the burnt transept roof. The iconic spire will be rebuilt, identical to the one designed in the 19th century by Eugene Viollet-le-Duc. Currently, the cathedral’s interior is being given a thorough cleaning. Friends of Notre Dame de Paris (2019) stated that “a thin layer of lead dust coated the cathedral’s interior in the aftermath of the fire.” Removing the lead dust is important for the worker's safety and to help conserve the integrity of the architectural elements. This painstaking work is done from the top of the interior walls to the bottom with tiny soft-bristled brushes. The dust is then vacuumed up using backpacks that the cleaners wear. “It is a meticulous and time-consuming process that requires the expertise of teams of stonemasons, sculpture and fine art restorers, locksmiths, ironworkers, and carpenters. This is also the first time that Notre-Dame Cathedral has been deep cleaned in this way!” (Friends of Notre Dame de Paris, 2022).

For Notre Dame’s interior, France’s National Heritage and Architecture Commission went over proposed plans to update and renovate the seating, lighting, lectern and guest facilities that had also been damaged from smoke, lead and water. Updates included more comfortable benches and having guests enter from a large door instead of side entrances. The chapels, however, will be restored to their original condition. Friends of Notre Dame de Paris stated that, “the chapels of Saint Ferdinand and Notre-Dame de Guadalupe, have already been completely restored.” With their restoration finishing in August, workers have “valuable insights on the best techniques for cleaning the paintings, stonework, and stained-glass windows in the cathedral” (2021).

Restoration work of Notre Dame has been very expensive, with the cost between 2019 and 2021 to be 165 million euros, (197 million dollars), and the final budget has yet to be determined. While funding is coming from the French government, donations are being accepted from all over the world. Most of that money went toward safety measures like stabilization and removing the burnt scaffolding. It should be noted that before the fire, the cathedral exterior and interior walls were in poor condition, hence the scaffolding. While the focus is on interior restorations, it is unclear if funds will be used on the cathedral's crumbling exterior. The website for Friends of Notre Dame cathedral accepts a few types of currency and has the option to donate once or monthly. A clever campaign that ran worldwide through the Friends of Notre Dame is an Adopt a Gargoyle program. Through a special gallery website, donors can track restoration progress on each artifact and donate to specific pieces that need help. For example, if you select the Gargoyle Phenex, you may choose to have your donation go towards his restoration. This clever idea sparked interest from all around the globe and is an interactive way to keep donors interested.

The 2019 fire at the Notre Dame cathedral was damaging to both the historic building and to the people of France. President Emmanuel Macron publicly stated, “the worst has been avoided even though the battle is not completely won,” (Nossiter & Breeden, 2019). While President Macron vowed that the cathedral will be rebuilt and gave a 5-year restoration deadline, it feels as though Notre Dame will take much longer. Throughout the restoration, craftsmen are still carefully and meticulously going over every inch of the cathedral interior removing dust and patching crumbling walls. Throughout clean up and restoration, the knowledge of skilled preservationists is being used to uphold the values of the cathedral and safely restore Notre Dame to its prior state of gothic glory. We can see the love that each person involved has for the cathedral. Hopefully we will hear bells (not electronic) ringing in the near future.