Hi Doug,
 
It sounds like they'll need to be humidified and flattened before they are stored.  Introducing a little moisture into the paper fibers will allow them to relax, then the maps can be pressed while they dry so they will remain flat.  There are several ways to go about this.  For information on a couple of different methods, you can check out the Missouri State Archives' Conservation Note "Humidification and Flattening of Paper" at http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/localrecs/conservation/notes/humidification.asp.  There is also the NEDCC's "Relaxing and Flattening Paper by Humidification" at http://www.nedcc.org/plam3/tleaf64.htm and the NPS' Conserve O Gram, "How to Flatten Folded or Rolled Paper Documents" at http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/13-02.pdf.
 
Good luck!
 
Sandy Hempe
Conservator
Missouri State Archives/Local Records Program
600 West Main St., Jefferson City, MO  65101
(573) 526-3970


From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Douglas Baldwin
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 4:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: unrolling and treating maps

Hello List,
 
I am a volunteer at a local historical society and there are several maps in their collection that have remained rolled up for a significant amount of time by a prior caretake of the library. These maps need to be unrolled and stored flat in an archival box/folder, however because of the amount of time they have remained rolled, I know they will need to be treated somehow to be able to store them flat and not have them re-roll or cause other types of damage to them.
 
I was hoping some of you out there have dealt with maps in these conditions and could provide some guidance on any procedures or treatments that would be cost effective (this of course being the operative criteria). They have little to no library budget so if there is a safe, cost effective way to get these maps flat without damaging them, I'd like to learn about it
 
Thanks
 
-Doug Baldwin
 
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