Ottawa - Canadian Association for Conservation

Preserving the History of Conservation in Canada
Kathy Nanowin, Manager, Collections and Conservation
The Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg MB
Conservation as a recognized profession has not documented its history very consistently. In some
areas, a lot of work has been done; for example, an initiative begun in 1975 by members of the
American Institute for Conservation (AIC) to conduct oral histories of senior conservators is still
ongoing. The Theory and History of Conservation Committee of ICOM-CC (International Council
of Museums-Conservation Committee) has become a partner in this, and IIC (International Institute
for Conservation) also has a similar project. The various conservation organizations all have internal
documentation of their histories, and a check of AATA reveals many articles describing the history of
conservation in different countries around the world. However, although some Canadian conservators
have been interviewed for the AIC project, there is little other written history of conservation in
Canada. Mervyn Ruggles wrote a paper on the topic that stopped in the 1970’s, and no one has taken
up where he left off.
This paper will briefly cover the history of professional conservation and conservators in Manitoba,
focusing on the large institutions: the Winnipeg Art Gallery, The Manitoba Museum, Archives of
Manitoba and Parks Canada Regional Conservation Lab. There have also been, and still are, several
private conservators active in the province.
Every other province and territory should likewise have its conservation history documented. Perhaps
there is a role for CAC, CAPC or CAEC to organize this initiative and move it forward. With more
and more senior Canadian conservators retiring, we need to collect and preserve our own stories.