Preserving Useful Knowledge

This book traces the history of collections care at the American Philosophical Society (APS) as revealed through its minute books, treasurers receipts, and librarians correspondence. It also examines the physical evidence presented by books and documents that were repaired by former restorers and conservators, including Library of Congress manuscript restorer William Berwick, book and manuscript restorer Carol Rugh (later Caorlyn Horton), and the Societys first full-time conservator, Willman Spawn. Their painstaking repairs, which have not always aged well, present both a vital historical record and an ongoing challenge for todays conservators. Illus.