A conservator at ARA’s 2023 conference in Belfast

Antony Oliver, a conservator at Sheffield Archives attended the ARA Conference in Belfast in 2023 as one of four Ancestry Bursary awardees. Here he details his experiences:

After a morning of stressful travel delays it was good to finally arrive at the Europa Hotel, Belfast for the start of the ARA 2023 Conference.

The lectures throughout the week were many and varied, and there was a good mix of practical case studies, with more technical and scientifically led papers.

There were many highlights, and first I would like to mention Mark O'Neill (Lancashire Archives) and Sarah Graham's (PRONI) talk on the many weird and wonderful tools that conservators find essential in their day-to-day work. Everything from bone folders to paring knives, and a discussion on how tools can be adapted to suit different applications. Special mention to the porcupine stick used to remove small particles of grit and dirt from wax seals!

Tony King and Lauren Moon-Shott (Durham University Library and Collections) presented a fascinating case study on a vandalised Shakespeare's first folio volume. The folio commands great significance to an international audience, a matter which raises complications for any interventive treatment. The presentation illustrated the challenges of executing interventive treatments (sympathetic to the needs of the original binding), which would make it fully accessible, as opposed to doing nothing at all. These are challenges that face conservators daily, and making informed decisions and choices are key to the safeguarding of all the documents we work on.

Collaborating with colleagues on work projects is also key in making connections with colleagues and other institutions. Maria Martinez-Viciana (The National Archives) and Fiona Johnston (Lambeth Palace Library) delivered an excellent talk, illustrating how they initially worked together at the library preparing the collections to be transferred to the new build library. They also discussed their collaboration on the relocation of the “Red Star Collection”, where they demonstrated how important it is to share skills, knowledge, and expertise.

From a similar perspective Mark O’ Neill (Lancashire Archives) also delivered an excellent presentation on a successful bid for funding (via a National archives Covid-19 Archives Fund), to preserve a collection from a family architectural firm in Lancaster. As well as the sharing of knowledge and expertise, communication between both parties is key in delivering a successful outcome to the project.

I was particularly impressed with the work Claire Hutchison is undertaking as newspaper project Conservator at The National Library of Scotland. The library is involved in undertaking a nationwide newspaper conservation and digitisation project. Newspapers are particularly susceptible to any kind of mechanical damage. Claire explained very eloquently some of the repair work undertaken on this very complex media.

I was honoured to Chair a session which included a fascinating case study by Mark Allen (Conservator, North East Wales Archives) on the conservation work carried out on The Ladies of Llangollen Recipe Book. The main objective of the talk was to illustrate some of the issues of re-backing a volume using reverse calf leather. I always enjoy listening and finding out more about other colleague’s approaches when making decisions on interventive treatments.

I really enjoyed the visit to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, where we had a tour of the strongrooms and conservation studio. The studio is something to die for, I was very envious!

Curry was served at the venue, it was very spicing, outstanding!

For the final session, I also Chaired a brief introduction to the ARA Preservation and Conservation Group. The aim of the session was to raise awareness of the activities we are involved in and to introduce members of the committee and their various roles. We always want to engage with the wider membership, and this was a great opportunity to do this. We received lots of constructive feedback and the Preservation and Conservation Group will take this on board, as part of our forward planning activities for the future.

All sessions were very well attended, and it was encouraging to see colleagues from other strands engaging with the conservation sessions in such a positive way.

Finally, I’d like to thank my sponsor Ancestry for attendance at this year’s conference. I enjoyed my time at conference catching up with colleagues old and new. Networking is so important, and it was great meeting new people and making connections with them.

I’d like to give a special mention to Annie Starkey (Conference Organiser) who did a magnificent job in producing a high-quality programme of lectures and speakers. This is no mean feat, as it involves a lot of hard work from the planning stage, through to the smooth delivery of the programme at conference.

I was fortunate to be nominated for the ARA Distinguished Service Award by my wonderful colleagues in ARA PCG. I was successful and received my award at conference. This was a very humbling experience for me and and I am blessed to have such wonderful colleagues and friends in conservation who think so highly of me. Its such a nice feeling be recognised in this way by one’s peers.

Antony Oliver

Ancestry Bursary Winner