dec06c.indd


Jane Hedberg P r e s e r v a t i o n  N e w s  

Florence fl ood anniversary 
On November 4, 1966, the Arno River 
overflowed its banks and spread devasta­
tion through the priceless buildings and 
collections in Florence, Italy. There was an 
unprecedented response to the disaster, with 
conservators from around the world and an 
army of “mud angels” converging in Florence 
to rescue the damaged collections. The fl ood 
was a literal and figurative watershed event 
for preservation and conservation, beginning 
their transformations into the professional 
specializations we recognize today. 

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of 
the response and to honor the individuals 
who responded, New York University’s Con­
servation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts 
and Villa la Pietra cosponsored an interna­
tional symposium in Florence on November 
10–11, 2006. Speakers reviewed the history of 
the flood, development of mass treatments, 
innovations to individual treatments, and 
changes in conservation training. In addition 
to the presentations, the mayor of Florence 
joined other political leaders, including the 
mayors of New Orleans, Dresden, and Prague 
and Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D­MA), in 
presenting a declaration of commitment to 
conservation and protection of art treasures 
following natural disasters. 

SAA photo collection guide 
The Society of American Archivists (SAA) has 
published Photographs: Archival Care and 
Management by Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler and 
Diane Vogt­O’Connor with Helena Zinkham, 
Brett Carnell, and Kit Peterson. This 550­
page book offers pragmatic approaches to 
managing photograph collections of all sizes 
held by all types of cultural heritage orga­
nizations. It covers appraisal, accessioning, 
arrangement, description, and research use. 

Jane Hedberg is preservation program offi  cer at Harvard 
University Library, e-mail: jane_hedberg@harvard.edu; 
fax: (617) 496-8344 

It also covers the history of photography, 
preservation issues and techniques, interpret­
ing photographs, legal issues, digitizing, and 
using photographs in outreach and education 
efforts. There are nearly 300 illustrations, plus 
a bibliography, information about funding 
sources, and a list of professional organiza­
tions concerned with photographs. 

The book costs $50.00 for SAA members 
and $84.95 for nonmembers. For more 
information or to order, consult the SAA 
online Publications and Products Catalog 
at www.archivists.org/catalog/pubDetail. 
asp?objectID=1995. 

AIC photo workshop 
The American Institute for Conservation of 
Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) and the 
National Park Service’s Harpers Ferry Center 
for Conservation will offer Basic Treatment of 
Black and White Silver Gelatin Photographs, 
February 12–15, 2007, at the National Con­
servation Training Center in Shepherdstown, 
West Virginia. This four­day workshop, 
taught by Gary Albright and Barbara Lem­
men, will provide training in basic treatment 
techniques to mid­career paper conservators 
who are responsible for silver gelatin devel­
oped­out photographic prints (SGDOPs). 
Participants will review the history, creation, 
deterioration, and identification of these 
prints; examine sample photographs; practice 
fundamental skills (surface cleaning, mend­
ing, crease reduction and fl attening); and 
complete a treatment project. 

The workshop costs $525 for AIC mem­
bers and $750 for nonmembers. The reg­
istration deadline is January 12, 2007, but 
registration is limited, so early application 
is advised. For more information, contact 
Eric Pourchot, AIC, 1717 K Street, NW, 
Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20036; phone: 
(202) 452­9545, ext. 12; fax: (202) 452­9328; 
e­mail: epourchot@aic­faic.org; URL: aic. 
s t a n f o r d . e d u / e d u c a t i o n / w o r k s h o p s  
/pho701des.pdf. 

December 2006  735 C&RL News 

mailto:epourchot@aic-faic.org
www.archivists.org/catalog/pubDetail
mailto:jane_hedberg@harvard.edu