Testimonial Dinner tendered to Lt. Governor James D. McManus, January 23, 1939; black & white gelatin developed-out photograph. Georgetown University Archives, Booth Family Center for Special Collections.
This photograph had extensive damage, including vertical creases every one-half to one inch, with corresponding cracks in the emulsion layer. In addition, most of the bottom edge is missing; and the photograph had been torn in half horizontally and "mended" with pressure-sensitive adhesive tape on the front and with masking tape on the back. Conservators began by cleaning the surface of the photograph, using cotton wool dampened with distilled water on the front and with a white vinyl eraser on the back. They were able to remove the pressure-sensitive tapes by immersing the item in a bath with ratio of 60/40 Toluene/Ethanol; and they reduced acidity by another immersion into filtered water. All of the creases and cracks were stabilized with a dilute solution of photo-grade gelatin, and tears and losses were mended with wheat starch paste and filled with toned Japanese tissue to the approximate weight and color of the original paper support. In addition, conservators inpainted in watercolor along the large central tear and re-adhered a paper label, that had originally been present on the back of the photograph, with wheat starch paste.