{"id":3643,"date":"2022-02-09T15:31:02","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T20:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/thepreservationlab\/?p=3643"},"modified":"2022-02-09T15:35:41","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T20:35:41","slug":"creating-order-out-of-chaos-storing-a-collection-of-19th-century-political-ephemera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/thepreservationlab\/2022\/02\/creating-order-out-of-chaos-storing-a-collection-of-19th-century-political-ephemera","title":{"rendered":"Creating Order Out of Chaos: Storing a Collection of 19th Century Political Ephemera"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In libraries, we traditionally house rectangular, book-shaped materials.  So when a collection of buttons, ribbons and medals entered the lab from the Public Library, our eyes widened as we peered inside the chaos filled box!  Initially, we were unsure of how to make order of all the parts for better storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Creating
Collection of political ephemera before preservation housing, call number 737.242097 C6971 1841<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Creating<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

This collection of political ephemera was received in a non-archival black banker\u2019s box.  It consisted of approximately 13 ribbons, 17 pinback buttons, and 9 metals dating to the late 1800\u2019s and onward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the late 19th century, political ephemera like this was once prolific and cheap to produce. It wasn\u2019t until the rise of the celluloid (plastic) button that political ribbons fell out of fashion. After many years of storage, the ribbons were creased, crumpled and interspersed with heavy medals, sharp pins, and acidic envelopes.  All components were in need of archival storage containers for long-term preservation, to separate the parts to keep them from damaging each other and to make them easier to handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ashleigh and Chris took on the challenge of housing these non-traditional library materials so as to facilitate future display and exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n