Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. RE: PCB-contaminated paper object post-house fire 2. RE: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. 3. 10-week Conservation Internship in Anchorage, Alaska - National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center 4. RE: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. 5. RE: Care of Collections Reading Group - 3 February 2026 6. RE: Call for abstracts - Blinded by the Light April Webinar - Icon Care of Collections Group 7. RE: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Chris Stavroudis Posted: Saturday January 31, 2026 8:54 AM Subject: RE: PCB-contaminated paper object post-house fire Message: Hi Abigail. The first question that comes to mind is where did the PCB contamination come from? If that can't be answered convincingly, I would recommend getting a second opinion on the presence of PCBs. I worked on an indoor mural that had been exposed to PCBs from a fire in an undergound electrical vault. Testing showed that wiping the surface with a soot sponge was sufficient to clear the contamination on the surface. The work site was sealed, under negative pressure, we wore full hazmat suits and full-face respirators. There was a decontamination shower upon exiting. Respirator cartridges, Tyvek suits, soot sponges were collected and processed as hazardous waste. If the map was framed and glazed, it may be sufficient to simply have the framing and glazing removed (and disposed of properly) and reframed. If it wasn't framed but had a heavy surface coating, cleaning with soot sponges would probably be sufficient but it would have to be done under the conditions described above. Someone with more experience could probably answer if it would be sufficient to reframe the map, glazed and sealed with a note on the back that the map was contaminated with PCBs. ------------------------------ Chris Stavroudis Paintings Conservator Freelance/Private Practice/Self-employed/Independent W Hollywood United States ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 01-29-2026 05:45 From: Abigail Bainbridge Subject: PCB-contaminated paper object post-house fire A colleague is asking me for advice/possibilities on behalf of family in LA: they had a house fire where there has been confirmed polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination. They have an unframed canvas-backed wall map that made it through the fire that they want to save if possible; they're going to have it tested specifically for PCB and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF). If tests come back positive-does anyone have experience salvaging cultural heritage with this type of contamination? Is it possible, and if so what PPE/precautions are necessary? I've done a bit of research but haven't found anything geared towards conservators, just to general public who may have this type of fire. It sounds to me like PCDF is the main concern? Can it be cleaned? If it can be safely framed, is that an effective solution for safely isolating it? Knowing California, I also wonder about regulations there compared to elsewhere. Thank you for any information you can provide. I'm not local so if you are and can help please do let me know via private message. ------------------------------ Abigail Bainbridge Director Bainbridge Conservation London United Kingdom ------------------------------ 2.From: Christian Mueller-Straten Posted: Saturday January 31, 2026 8:54 AM Subject: RE: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. Message: Hi Morwenna, sounds very interesting. Please make arrangements to forward a review copy to us or write us an article on your results for EXPOTIME! (6-7 pages A4). ------------------------------ [Christian] [Mueller-Straten] [Researcher, Publisher, Art Historian] [Owner] [Verlag Dr. Christian Mueller-Straten] [Munich] [Germany] [0049-89-839 690 43] [https://www.museum-aktuell.de] https://www.museum-aktuell.de/CEO ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 01-23-2026 05:24 From: Morwenna Blewett Subject: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. This book is the first in-depth study of the restoration and conservation field in the National Socialist era. It presents a completely new perspective on the physical manipulation of fine, applied arts and other cultural property, under the regime from 1933 to post war in 1948. It investigates the motivations behind the participation of the conservation and restoration profession in this network of profit, crime, persecution and ideological broadcast. The book is being launched next month at two events (London and Oxford). All welcome. Please see the events below for registration and (free) ticketing. 'Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime' book launch - Worcester College <https://www.worc.ox.ac.uk/news-events/events/art-restoration-under-the-nazi-regime-book-launch> Event: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment | Ben Uri <https://benuri.org/events/82-book-launch-art-restoration-under-the-nazi-regime/> It is available for pre-order from most booksellers. 3.From: Nicole Peters Posted: Saturday January 31, 2026 8:55 AM Subject: 10-week Conservation Internship in Anchorage, Alaska - National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center Message: The Objects Conservation Intern assists Alaska-based Senior NPS Museum Conservator with object handling, object photography (before and after treatment digital imaging), report writing (condition reports, treatment proposals, and treatment reports), database entry, lab maintenance, and basic treatment steps for a variety of artifacts in need of conservation treatment at the Alaska Region NPS. Training will be provided in all areas listed above. The position is located at the Alaska Regional Curatorial Center in Anchorage, AK. The position will involve conservation treatment of objects from the Alaskan landscape. The types of objects will vary depending on the needs of the parks, but will largely include basketry, wooden artifacts, archaeological materials, metals, leather, and composite utilitarian objects. Basic treatment steps may include a variety of surface cleaning methods, mending, filling losses, reattaching loose elements, applying surface coatings, and humidifying/flattening under the guidance of a Senior NPS Museum Conservator. Learning to test materials to ensure the preservation of objects during treatment, such as chemical spot tests, UV examination, microscope use, and pXRF, will also be included as appropriate. This position is ideal for those who have completed at least one year of formal graduate school training in art conservation with a focus on 3-dimensional objects. The position is almost all in-person but telework days will be granted upon request for report writing. Qualified NCPE interns who complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. Once earned, the PLC certificate can be used to apply for eligible Federal permanent, temporary, or term positions. Visit https://preservenet.org/ncpe-internships/ for details about this benefit. Successful completion of the internship does not guarantee Federal employment. To be eligible, applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old (or 35 if a veteran) when starting the internship, a post-secondary student (certificate program, 2-year, 4-year, or graduate level), or a recent graduate (within the past 12 months at the time of application), and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Link to Internship: https://preservenet.org/job/national-park-service-ncpe-internship-program-anchorage-ak-internship-ncpe-internship-objects-conservation-intern-400-hours/ <https://preservenet.org/job/national-park-service-ncpe-internship-program-anchorage-ak-internship-ncpe-internship-objects-conservation-intern-400-hours/> ------------------------------ Nicole Peters Conservator NPS Harpers Ferry Center Connecting to Collections Care Monitor ------------------------------ 4.From: Morwenna Blewett Posted: Saturday January 31, 2026 3:42 PM Subject: RE: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. Message: Dear Christian, Thank you for much for your interest in my book. Sadly, I have no access to review copies given the price, but I suggest you contact my publishers - Palgrave Macmillan. I am sure they will be able to assist you with whatever process they have in place for making review copies available. Best wishes, Morwenna ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 1/31/2026 2:50:00 AM From: Christian Mueller-Straten Subject: RE: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. Hi Morwenna, sounds very interesting. Please make arrangements to forward a review copy to us or write us an article on your results for EXPOTIME! (6-7 pages A4). ------------------------------ [Christian] [Mueller-Straten] [Researcher, Publisher, Art Historian] [Owner] [Verlag Dr. Christian Mueller-Straten] [Munich] [Germany] [0049-89-839 690 43] [https://www.museum-aktuell.de] https://www.museum-aktuell.de/CEO ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 01-23-2026 05:24 From: Morwenna Blewett Subject: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. This book is the first in-depth study of the restoration and conservation field in the National Socialist era. It presents a completely new perspective on the physical manipulation of fine, applied arts and other cultural property, under the regime from 1933 to post war in 1948. It investigates the motivations behind the participation of the conservation and restoration profession in this network of profit, crime, persecution and ideological broadcast. The book is being launched next month at two events (London and Oxford). All welcome. Please see the events below for registration and (free) ticketing. 'Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime' book launch - Worcester College <https://www.worc.ox.ac.uk/news-events/events/art-restoration-under-the-nazi-regime-book-launch> Event: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment | Ben Uri <https://benuri.org/events/82-book-launch-art-restoration-under-the-nazi-regime/> It is available for pre-order from most booksellers. 5.From: Meagen Smith Posted: Saturday January 31, 2026 3:46 PM Subject: RE: Care of Collections Reading Group - 3 February 2026 Message: Reminder: 📚Care of Collections Reading Group is on🗓️ Tuesday, 3 February @ 16.00 London / 11.00 New York / 10.00 Minneapolis time. The sign up list is still available and I'll resend the Zoom link on Monday. See you online! 🖥️ ------------------------------ Meagen Smith Library and archive conservator Lambeth Palace Library ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 01-11-2026 12:18 From: Meagen Smith Subject: Care of Collections Reading Group - 3 February 2026 📚 The votes are in for the 2026 February Care of Collections Reading Group 📚. We'll be reading on 3 February at 16.00 GMT: Leijonhufvud, G., Karlström, A., & Broström, T. (2025). Sustainable Education for Sustainable Heritage: Managing the Tension Between Professional Practice and Critical Inquiry. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 64(1), 76–85. doi 10.1080/01971360.2024.2415792 Feel free to continue signing up: <https://lnkd.in/eZg93-zn> https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/55969a73-ecb0-4c20-b0df-ce7ceace3cbc/select <https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/55969a73-ecb0-4c20-b0df-ce7ceace3cbc/select> ------------------------------ Meagen Smith Library and archive conservator Lambeth Palace Library ------------------------------ Original Message: Sent: 12-28-2025 10:53 From: Meagen Smith Subject: Care of Collections Reading Group - 3 February 2026 The Care of Collections Reading Group returns for 2026. Thank you to everyone who read and discussed last year's diverse collection of publications. The Care of Collections Reading Group explores and discusses open access articles covering preservation, collection care and collection wide conservation such as environmental monitoring, risk management, collection moves, etc. This activity provides an accountability partner for reading through the new or established research as a method of keeping our awareness high.** The group meets the first Tuesday, every two months for an hour of discussion 16.00 BST. All are welcome to attend –though if you haven't read the book/journal/article, you won't miss any spoilers: degradation, embrittlement, climate change! Sign up: https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/55969a73-ecb0-4c20-b0df-ce7ceace3cbc/select <https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/55969a73-ecb0-4c20-b0df-ce7ceace3cbc/select> **Seventh session: 3 February, 2026 via Zoom. A reminder with login details will be sent 1 week and 1 day ahead of the session. **Seventh session reading choices are: Wickens, J. D. J., & Gupta, A. (2024). Leveraging Systems Thinking to Dismantle Systemic Racism in Conservation. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 63(4), 259–276. doi 10.1080/01971360.2024.2348903 ------------------------- Moon-Schott, L., & King, T. (2025). Consulting Stakeholders as a Basis for Decision-Making. Journal of Paper Conservation, 26(3–4), 85–97. doi 10.1080/18680860.2025.2587591 -------------------------- Leijonhufvud, G., Karlström, A., & Broström, T. (2025). Sustainable Education for Sustainable Heritage: Managing the Tension Between Professional Practice and Critical Inquiry. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 64(1), 76–85. doi 10.1080/01971360.2024.2415792 ------------------------------ Meagen Smith Library and archive conservator Lambeth Palace Library ------------------------------ 6.From: Meagen Smith Posted: Saturday January 31, 2026 3:46 PM Subject: RE: Call for abstracts - Blinded by the Light April Webinar - Icon Care of Collections Group Message: ⏰Six days to go! We would love to hear about your 💡projects and 🕯️case studies, both small and large. ⏲️ ------------------------------ Meagen Smith Library and archive conservator Lambeth Palace Library ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 01-18-2026 10:28 From: Meagen Smith Subject: Call for abstracts - Blinded by the Light April Webinar - Icon Care of Collections Group Blinded by the Light – A webinar on lighting in heritage environments Save the date: 21 April 2026, 9.30 - 12.30 BST Icon Care of Collections Group invite abstracts up to 200 words on lighting projects in heritage environments for an April webinar. Presenters will each have up to fifteen minutes to share their topics. Time is also scheduled for questions and thoughts after the presentations. The event is open to Icon members and non-members, and anyone with an interest in the collection care. The abstract should include your name, affiliation and time zone emailed to [email protected] <[email protected]> by midnight GMT, 6 February 2026. If accepted the talk can be pre-recorded and played on the day. Please contact the CCG Events team at [email protected] <[email protected]> as soon as possible for further details or to discuss your ideas or questions. ------------------------------ Meagen Smith Library and archive conservator Lambeth Palace Library ------------------------------ 7.From: Ellen Pearlstein Posted: Saturday January 31, 2026 3:47 PM Subject: RE: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. Message: Thank you. I'll look forward to further news about a recording of the Oxford event. Best wishes, ------------------------------ Ellen Pearlstein Emerita Research Professor UCLA/Getty Interdepartmental Program in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Santa Monica CA ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 01-30-2026 08:53 From: Morwenna Blewett Subject: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. Dear Ellen, Apologies for the delay in response; I needed to check with the organisers. I have their response now. The launch in the London venue is in-person only. The arrangements for the Oxford launch might include a recording which, if it takes place, will be made available later. There is no online event for either launch. Best wishes, Morwenna Original Message: Sent: 1/24/2026 1:50:00 PM From: Ellen Pearlstein Subject: RE: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. Thank you for your work. Is virtual attendance at either book launch possible? ------------------------------ Ellen Pearlstein Emerita Research Professor UCLA/Getty Interdepartmental Program in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Santa Monica CA ------------------------------ Original Message: Sent: 01-23-2026 05:24 From: Morwenna Blewett Subject: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment. This book is the first in-depth study of the restoration and conservation field in the National Socialist era. It presents a completely new perspective on the physical manipulation of fine, applied arts and other cultural property, under the regime from 1933 to post war in 1948. It investigates the motivations behind the participation of the conservation and restoration profession in this network of profit, crime, persecution and ideological broadcast. The book is being launched next month at two events (London and Oxford). All welcome. Please see the events below for registration and (free) ticketing. 'Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime' book launch - Worcester College <https://www.worc.ox.ac.uk/news-events/events/art-restoration-under-the-nazi-regime-book-launch> Event: Book Launch: Art Restoration Under the Nazi Regime: Revelation and Concealment | Ben Uri <https://benuri.org/events/82-book-launch-art-restoration-under-the-nazi-regime/> It is available for pre-order from most booksellers. You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to https://community.culturalheritage.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e&GroupKey=757a8f16-505f-4323-8e74-e376757aa9f7.
