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/humidificati
on.asp
<http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/localrecs/conservation/notes/humidificat
ion.asp> .  There is also the NEDCC's "Relaxing and Flattening Paper by
Humidification" at http://www.nedcc.org/plam3/tleaf64.htm
<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
<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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