PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Historical Society is offering two document and art preservation classes in May.
“Cleaning and Mending Paper Artifacts” is set for May 15.
“Flattening Rolled & Deformed Paper Artifacts” will be offered May 29.
The maximum class size is six people, and early registration is encouraged.
The cost is $30 per class for historical society members or $45 for nonmembers.
Payment in advance is required to secure a place in the class.
All class fees benefit historical society programs.
Classes will be at 1 p.m. each class day at the historical society’s research center at 13692 Airport Cutoff Road.
The classes will last about one to 1½ hours and consist of discussion, demonstration and hands-on practice.
Participants can bring a small item for evaluation and to work on if they wish. All necessary materials will be provided.
In the May 15 class, participants will learn about different types of papers and their characteristics.
They’ll receive an introduction to dry-cleaning methods for books and documents.
The class will present techniques for mending books and papers. Participants will learn how to hinge a work of art on paper to a backing board and do simple repairs with Japanese paper and wheat starch paste.
On May 29, participants will learn how to flatten papers using an ultrasonic humidifier and pressure.
Papers that have been rolled, crushed or folded for long periods of time have a “memory” and will resist attempts to unroll and flatten them unless the artifact is humidified to relax it and dried under weights, said Bill Tennent, director of the historical society.
To register, call 360-385-1003 or come into the historical society office at 540 Water St.
