The conservation of the Keith Mitchell’s personal scrapbook

The Australian actor, Keith Mitchell is best known for his many imposing stage and screen performances particularly in classical roles such as King Henry VIII.

As a part of the changing displays in the Theatre and Performance Gallery, we wanted to display his personal scrapbook – but it needed some conservation treatment to get it ready. The scrapbook is a wonderful record of his work around 1970, and it includes photographs, cards and telegrams from family and friends, as well as press cuttings relating to the play ‘Abelard and Heloise’.

The book holds a wide range of materials, including a pair of metal paper clips. They form the spectacles of a funny little sad-face drawing.

Originally the paperclips were held on the page with Sellotape, but with age the adhesive lost adhesion power and yellowed. The metal clips also oxidised, resulting in the loss of our friend’s spectacles.

In order to ‘respectical’ the face, I had to clean the paperclips with a slightly abrasive eraser, before protecting the surface from relative humidity with microcrystalline wax.

The paper clips were then re-attached in their original position using Japanese paper bridges (the same method used for attaching samples to herbaria).

Finally, the original Sellotape carrier was re-attached in its original position using transparent adhesive film (BEVA® film).

It was a wonderful opportunity to carry out this challenging project. Working on modern materials always offers a wealth of learning opportunities, a combination of problem-solving and practical skills.

The Keith Mitchell’s scrapbook is now ready to display and meet its public in the Theatre and Performance galleries.

Acknowledgements

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Diana Heath, Senior Metal conservator, for her expertise and helpful advices, as well as Jane Rutherston, Head of the Book conservation studio, and Anne Bancroft, Senior Book & Paper conservator, who contributed to this post.