TSLA

​Dr. Pethel's Public History class ventured to the Tennessee State Library and Archives, also known as TSLA. They learned about the science behind historic conservation at TSLA's Conservation Lab. Conservation attempts to clean, repair, and preserve documents, blueprints, and photographs. It is different from restoration, which attempts to restore an artifact or document to its original condition or appearance. Conservator Stewart Southard showed the girls how he cleans documents, uses magnesium bicarbonate to flatten and relax the acidity of documents, and applies Japanese tissue paper and wheat paste instead of tape. Below check out a document from 1807 and part of Mr. Southard's photo collection. Glass plate positives preceded negatives which is why you have to put it on black backing to see the image. Early paper photos were cheaper, allowing people to have a little more fun in their pictures. As such, the first "funny" photos emerged -- some things never change!