On my first visit to Hyderabad, India, I was introduced to an interesting preservation idea—wrapping bundles of archival documents in red cloth to protect them from insect damage in storage. The people in the archive I visited accepted the red cloth’s beneficial properties as a time-honored tradition. The bright red cotton was untreated; the region was very hot and humid and poor. I came away wondering if anyone has come across this or similar homegrown practices for deterring insects in tropical or subtropical environments. Perhaps the original approach included soaking the rags in urine or some other odiferous solution and then drying them before wrapping the bundled documents? Today, regrettably, the archive is actively fumigating with 1,4-dichlorobenzene and thymol. Perhaps resurfacing a less lethal, more traditional approach might find acceptance.
Many thanks in advance for your help. Randy Silverman Head of Preservation University of Utah Marriott Library 295 South 1500 East, Room 5210 Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0860 USA Office: 801.585.6782 [email protected] ****** Unsubscribe by sending a message to [email protected] Archives through August 2016 at http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/ Archives from September 2016 onward at https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
