This treatment was part of an ongoing project to stabilize the Stidham Diary Collection at Winterthur Library. Joseph Stidham, a ropemaker and wire weaver, wrote about his everyday observations and work in his diaries. Stidham bound his diaries with miscellaneous everyday materials. My treatment protocol was developed with the intention of honoring this personal and unique binding process while enabling access to it for researchers.

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Treatment Overview

• Loose gatherings were guarded with mulberry paper and wheat starch paste and spot sewn to the textblock.

• The delaminating boards and paper covering were consolidated with wheat starch paste.

• Loose ephemera were encapsulated in polyester film sleeves.