Annual Report 2003-2004 - National Archives of Scotland

CONSERVATION
Staffing levels have remained static throughout the year with 10 conservators and additional
administrative assistance available part-time to the branch. In March 2004 a permanent member
of staff left on a career break until July 2006. We hope to fill this vacant position in the short term
with a trained member of conservation staff from the State Archives of the Czech Republic via the
Inward Secondment programme, thus capitalising on previously established collaboration between
our organisations.
Between April and December 2003, conservation staff and resources were dedicated to the
preparation, treatment, mounting and de-installation of The Universal King: James VI and the
Union of the Crowns, an exhibition held at Edinburgh Castle in association with Historic Scotland.
A total of 15 objects were treated, mounted and displayed, including loan items from other
institutions, and over 400 hours were spent on this exhibition. In November conservation staff
assisted the NAS Education Officer in preparing for a workshop for primary school children held at
Edinburgh Castle, providing samples of materials used in the making of medieval documents.
Initial meetings were held with the Head of Outreach and Education and staff at the new Scottish
parliament concerning display area and possible loan of exhibits from NAS. Throughout the year
CSB supported and contributed to the preparation of the Scottish Archives for Schools project.
Considerable resources and assistance continue to be diverted to Court and Legal Records.
Conservation staff work closely with curatorial staff on research priorities and to ensure that
collection demands are supported. We provide discrete and secure storage cabinets and staff
time to ensure all sensitive court photographic productions are repackaged and housed securely.
In February 2003 Conservation hosted non-destructive X-Ray Fluorescence testing and analysis of
the evidence produced at the Madeleine Smith trial by Professor Andy Meharg of the Department
of Biogeochemistry of Aberdeen University. A visit from Alison Fraser, the Archivist in Orkney, to
discuss proposed conservation treatments to SC86 in February 2004 under charge and
superintendence agreement marks the beginning of a significant commitment to work on this
record series.
Work for Private Records included the assessment and treatment of GD492, a varied collection
which contains some very early photographic prints of St Kilda. Digital images of these
photographs were made available to the National Trust for Scotland for use in their submission
seeking revised World Heritage status for the island. Conservation staff also provided assistance,
including provision of surrogate copies, to the Church Records Officer in dealing with a significant
record loan request to commemorate a centenary exhibition at Laurencekirk.
From July to September 2003 two project conservators worked on Phase I of the Upper Clyde
Shipbuilding Glass Plate Preservation Project, cleaning and re-housing this important collection
prior to storing the glass negatives in custom-made cabinets within the photographic store at
Thomas Thomson House. A total of 10,500 plates were worked on during this period, including
plates of HMS Hood and the Queen Mary.
Conservation staff developed and used the new electronic catalogue to document all work and
gave input to the new policy on Fragile Records now available on the NAS website. All referrals for
treatment notified by staff and readers are noted within the internal electronic catalogue system
and conservation staff direct their work to deal specifically with these requests. The pilot digital
imaging service was introduced in December 2003 and conservation staff have been directly
involved in responding to these service requests. A workshop funded by NAS for Conservation
staff and professional colleagues from Glasgow City Archives, Lothian Health Board Trust and
The earliest surviving letter written by James VI, treated by Conservation before its inclusion in The Universal King:
James VI and the Union of the Crowns.
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