Conservation of Palm Leaf Manuscripts

1
Conservation of Palm Leaf Manuscripts

• By Erika Ichihara
• LIS 620

2
Overview

• Background Information
• Factors and Consequences of Deterioration
• Procedures for Conservation
• Removing Insects
• Removing Surface Soil
• Repairing Mechanical Damage
• Oiling

3
Review of Palm Leaf Manuscripts

• Produced from dried palm leaves
• South Asia and Southeast Asia

Preparing palm-leaves in southwest China
4
Factors of Deterioration

• Physical Factors/Climate
• Biological Factors
• Chemical Factors
• Human Factors

5
Consequences of Deterioration

• Discoloration
• Damage by insects
• Fungal effect
• Splitting of the surface layer
• Fading of writing
• Brittleness and weakening of the leaves

Insect Damage
6
Procedures for Conservation

• Clean soiled surfaces
• Strengthen image
• Support damaged areas
• Impart flexibility
• Reduce further insect damage

7
Removing Insects

• Kill all insects infesting manuscripts
• Freeze, mothballs containing para-dichlorobenzene
  or naphthalene
• Placed in airtight container
• Gently brush with soft brush to remove dust and
  insect parts

8
Removing Surface Soil

• Dry Cleaning (soft brush and erasers)
• Cleaning and Hydrating
• Old, Dried Oil
• Soak in non-bleach detergent and warm water
• Ethyl alcohol

9
Repairing Mechanical Damage

• Use Japanese-type tissue with PVA and methyl
  cellulose
• Similar to mending
• Paper should be thinner than the palm leaf

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Oiling

• Neem (maragosa) Oil
• Insect repellent too!
• Lightly apply with soft brush
• Air-dry to avoid molding
• May use lampblack to improve clarity of writing

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After finishing with these repairs

• Polish with soft dry cloth, restring with cord,
  case, and box, together with a small amount of
  insect repellant

12
Bibliography

• ChinaA2Z. "Dai people create "civilization on
  palm leaves"." Available from http//news.chinaa2z
  .com/news/html/2009/20090417/20090417093336200316/
  20090417093838783608.html. Accessed 30 April
  2011.
• Cornell University Library Department of
  Preservation and Conservation. "Cambodian
  Palm-Leaf Manuscripts Procedures for
  Conservation." Department of Preservation and
  Collection Maintenance. Available from
  http//www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/manual
  /palm.html. Accessed 25 April 2011.
• Council on Library and Information Resources
  (CLIR) and Cornell University Library. "Palm Leaf
  Manuscripts." Library Preservation and
  Conservation Southeast Asia Tutorial. Available
  from http//www.librarypreservation.org/preservati
  on/indigenous1.htm. Accessed 25 April 2011.
• Perumal, P.. "Conservation of Palm Leaf
  Manuscripts." Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
  Available from http//www.iiap.res.in/archives/pdf
  s/Perumal.pdf. Accessed 25 April 2011.
• University of Southern Mississippi. "PalmLeaf
  Manuscript." Special Collections. Available from
  http//www.lib.usm.edu/spcol/exhibitions/item_of_t
  he_month/iotm_nov_08.html. Accessed 29 April
  2011.
• Whitman College. "The PalmLeaf Manuscript."
  Sheehan Gallery. Available from
  http//www.whitman.edu/sheehan/PostCards/exhibit-a
  .html. Accessed 29 April 2011.