Completed Catalogues!

As I mentioned in an earlier post I have spent the last couple of weeks cataloguing and describing the Saint Ultan's Hospital Papers. Having created the descriptions of the material at item, file, series and collection level, the next step is to physically rearrange the material so that the 'physical order' of the material reflects the 'intellectual order' in the catalogue. During the process of cataloguing and rearrangement a number of preservation activities are carried out to promote the long term survival of the documents.

All the material is placed in acid-free archival folders to protect the documents, and the photographs are placed in archival polyester pockets so they can be viewed without being handled. Any metal fastening in the documents are removed as these have a tendency to rust and damage the documents, fastening can range from paper clips and staples to pins and nails, and they all need to be carefully removed to cause minimum damage to the documents. Where necessary these fastening can be replaced with inert plastic clips to hold related documents together. Loose surface dirt is also carefully removed. Any more serious problems, which require a conservator's attention, are recorded so that items can be prioritised for treatment later. Once all this has been carried out the folders are labelled with the document's new reference numbers, placed in archival boxes and then stored in the archive store.