PORT TOWNSEND — Upcoming classes will teach how to preserve old newspapers, family records, letters and other meaningful paper documents now collecting dust in attics.
The first class offered by the Jefferson County Historical Society, “Cleaning and Mending Paper Artifacts,” will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the historical society’s Research Center, 13692 Airport Cutoff Road.
The second class, “Flattening Rolled and Deformed Paper Artifacts,” will be at the same time and location May 29.
Class size is six
The maximum class size is six people, and early registration is encouraged at the historical society office at 540 Water St.
The cost is $30 per class for historical society members or $45 for nonmembers. Payment in advance is required.
All class fees benefit historical society programs.
Both classes will last about 1½ hours and consist of discussion, demonstration and hands-on practice.
Each participant can bring a small item for evaluation and to work on, organizers said, adding that all necessary materials will be provided.
Course goals
During Sunday’s course, participants will learn about different types of papers and their characteristics, and will receive an introduction to dry-cleaning methods for books and documents.
The class will present simple 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.
The class May 29 will teach participants how to care for papers that have been rolled, crushed or folded for long periods of time.
They can be humidified and dried under weights using an ultrasonic humidifier and pressure machine.
For more information, call 360-385-1003.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
