Two years ago a report on the "Deterioration of newspapers" was
presented to the American Library Association at the Mackinac
conference, and as a consequence the executive board appointed Messrs.
Frank P. Hill, Brooklyn public library, Horace G. Wadlin, Boston public
library, and Cedric Chivers, bookbinder, a committee to consider the
subject further and report back to the association. As stated at the
Pasadena conference last year, the committee was appointed too late to
make any satisfactory report at that time. This year the report can be
only one of progress.
In order to bring the matter more clearly to your minds liberal
quotations are made from the 1910 report.
"An examination of old Brooklyn and Manhattan papers showed that in
many instances papers published within the last forty years had begun
to discolor and crumble to such an extent that it would hardly pay to
bind those which had been folded for any length of time. Upon further
investigation it was found that practically all of these newspapers
were printed on cheap wood pulp paper, which carries with it the seeds
of early decay, and that the life of a periodical printed on this
inferior stock is not likely to be more than fifty years.
"This is a serious matter and demands the attention of publishers and
librarians throughout the country. It means that the material for
history contained in the newspapers will not be available after the
period mentioned, and that all such historical record will eventually
disappear unless provision is made for reprinting or preserving the
volumes as they exist at present. The historian depends to such an
extent upon the newspapers for his data that it will mean a serious
loss if some preservative cannot be found.
"As soon as the condition of the files of the Brooklyn public library
was discovered a circular was sent to some of the prominent newspaper
publishers asking (1) the result of their experience; (2) whether a
better grade of paper was being used for running off extra copies for
their own files; (3) what, if any, means were being taken to preserve
the files in their own offices. It was hoped as a result of this
circular that definite measures of improvement would be suggested. From
responses received it is evident that there is a desire on the part
of the publishers to meet the requirements of librarians and others
on this subject; and it is likely that a conference of publishers and
librarians will be held in the near future to consider the feasibility
of printing some copies on better paper, but the answers showed that
no special paper was used and that no means were taken to preserve (by
reprinting or by chemical process) those in the worst condition.
"Inquiries were also sent to various manufacturers of paper with no
better result. No encouragement was received from this source except
that one manufacturer thought that some newspapers were using a better
grade, and another, that he had just the paper which ought to be used.
It was stated that two New York publishers used a better grade of paper
for a few additional copies, but returns from these papers indicate
that no difference is made at the present time."
During the past six months the members of the committee have been in
correspondence with publishers regarding the possibility of striking
off a few extra copies on a better quality of paper, and Mr. Chivers
has taken upon himself the duty and responsibility of experimenting
with a "cellit" solution prepared especially for the preservation of
newsprint paper.
Early in June of this year the committee invited representatives of
the leading New York and Brooklyn papers to meet in conference on the
subject. The following papers were represented: The Brooklyn Daily
Eagle by H. F. Gunnison, the New York American by Jerome Buck, the New
York World by E. D. Carruthers, and the Publishers' Weekly by John
A. Holden. The object of the conference was stated to be: 1st. The
consideration of method of preserving bound volumes of newspapers; and
2nd. The possibility of publishers printing extra copies of the current
issue on a better grade of paper for binding purposes.
Mr. Chivers stated that he had not used "celestron" the German product,
but had made successful experiments with "cellit," an American
solution. His investigation proved that the deterioration was due in a
large measure to the exposure of the paper to light and air and that by
covering the paper with a coating of "cellit" or "celestron" the pores
were filled and oxidation prevented. He was afraid, however, that the
question of expense would deter most librarians and publishers from
dipping the volume page by page in the solution, as suggested in the
earlier report of this committee, but expressed the hope that some
method would be devised by which it could be used less expensively.
Mr. Chivers was of the opinion that since oxidation begins at the
edges the life of the paper may be extended from 50 to 75 years if the
edges of the bound volume are painted with the solution, and that this
treatment could be repeated with the same result. He called special
attention to the necessity of binding newspapers as soon as possible
after publication so that they need not be long exposed to the air. The
desirability of this practice was emphasized by some of the publishers
and by Mr. Arthur D. Little, the Boston chemist.
Considerable discussion arose over the question of printing extra
copies of current issues on a better grade of paper, and the conclusion
arrived at was that there was no practical objection to it, and that it
could be done without very much extra cost of time, labor or paper.
The conference developed the fact that there was another drawback to
the preservation of newspapers, namely, the poor quality of ink, and
that nothing would be gained by using the better quality of paper
unless a better quality of ink was used.
Mr. Carruthers, of the New York World, drew attention to the fact that
the colored sections of the Metropolitan Sunday papers were destroyed
by worms within a short time after publication.
So far as the committee was advised the first and only newspaper in the
country to print extra copies on better paper was and is The Red Wing
(Minn.) Republican, which furnishes copies of its publication to the
State historical society for filing purposes.
Considerable publicity has been given the subject since the meeting
through the American Newspaper Publishers' Association, and several
valuable suggestions have been received.
Mr. Gunnison of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle writes:
"I have given considerable thought to the matter of the better grade of
paper and have come to the conclusion that the only feasible way is to
have rolls of good paper and use that after the regular edition of the
paper is run off. As Mr. Carruthers of the World said, this would be
almost impossible for some of the larger papers to carry out. The Eagle
could do it very nicely because we have a different system of handling
the paper and we shall try to put this into operation beginning with
the first of the year."
As is well known the Eagle is one of the best newspapers in the United
States, so that if anyone is particularly interested in securing for
filing purposes a paper which will last for 100 years or more he should
subscribe to the Eagle.
Miss Jane Roberts, of Newark, N. J., states that she uses a preparation
put up by a Newark chemist and has met with success in its application.
Mr. Conde Hamlin of the New York Tribune sent in the following:
"I did think of one method which seemed to me would be less expensive
than the use of a special grade of paper for the printing of a few
copies. That would be to take a fine grade of French tissue paper and
after separating the sheets which composed the paper to be preserved,
covering both sides of the printed matter with this tissue and a fine
grade of paste. This, of course, would make the bound volume much
thicker but would preserve the paper itself.
"I doubt whether this suggestion is of any value but take the liberty
of making it."
It was decided that the subject was of sufficient interest and
importance to warrant further investigation and the conference
adjourned to meet in September. We therefore recommend that the
Committee be continued.
FRANK P. HILL, Chairman,
HORACE G. WADLIN,
CEDRIC CHIVERS.
* * * * *
The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: Inasmuch as the report of the committee
contains a recommendation, that recommendation is now before you for
action. Unless there are objections, the report will be referred to
the executive board for consideration of the recommendations contained
therein.
Dr. HILL: Mr. President, I hope we may hear from Mr. Chivers for a
moment if he is here.
The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: With characteristic thoroughness Mr. Chivers
has proceeded with his experiments as outlined by Dr. Hill, and we
shall be very glad to hear from him at this time as to what he has
found out.
Mr. CHIVERS: The report you have heard deals pretty fully with the
subject, and I think the association may be congratulated upon the
fact that the publishers of the more or less national newspapers, who
would be required to print quite a number of copies, are willing to do
it, but that is not the whole of the problem. The difficulty of bad
paper and newspaper files will be felt in the future rather with local
newspapers, because only a few copies would be required for filing
purposes, and the printer would find special printing too troublesome
and expensive.
As you have heard, there is a substance called cellit, a solution
of cellulose and spirit, into which the paper may be dipped, and
thoroughly saturated. The spirit quickly evaporating leaves the paper
quite tough. The result is a very satisfactory paper. It is, however,
practically impossible to dip so large a surface as a newspaper into
this solution. The fibre when wet is too weak to handle; also the
spirit in the solution quickly evaporates, leaving a glutinous mass,
impracticable to deal with. We understand that oxidation of the paper
resulted from the action of light, air and deleterious atmosphere. If
the newspaper for filing were not allowed to be used in the reading
room but were set aside on the morning of publication, kept from the
light and air, and a board or weight placed upon it, and if the volume
were bound directly it was complete, very little mischief would happen.
Again, if the edges of the volume were frayed out and this solution of
cellit, which is comparatively cheap and quite practical to use in this
way, should be painted upon the edges, you would have a newspaper file
which would last for a great number of years. How many, I do not know,
but the chemist who accompanied me to the British Museum, in conducting
the examination of newspapers under the instructions of your committee,
could see no reason why the paper should not last indefinitely.
We discovered there--because in the British Museum there are more
newspapers brought together than in any other place in the world--that
newspapers which were left lying about before binding were in a very
bad condition in the course of four or five years, while newspapers
which had been bound some fifteen or twenty years, of the same kind of
paper, were in thoroughly good condition, proving that if you could
take care of the paper and not allow it to be exposed to the air there
is no reason why even bad paper should not last a very long time. The
rule should be made as I have suggested it. In the British Museum there
had been no rule, but the exigencies of the binding shop had been
consulted, and here and there a newspaper had been bound quickly, and
it was all right; and if it had been left about, as some of them were,
it was all wrong. That is my practical contribution to the discussion.
Dr. BOSTWICK: I would like to ask Dr. Hill if his committee
investigated the newspaper report that it is now possible, or will be
shortly possible, to obtain a thin, tough metallic sheet which can be
printed upon. It was reported that that had been done.
Dr. HILL: Nothing of that nature came before the committee, Mr.
Chairman, but I am sure that at the next conference some publisher or
some commercial house will give us that desired information. I would
say for the benefit of those who are interested in this subject, and a
great many of us ought to be, that there are extra copies of the first
report of the committee on the table for distribution.
Dr. BOSTWICK: I would like to ask Mr. Chivers if he proposes, in
applying the cellit to the edges of the sheets, to apply it to the
bound volume as a whole, and whether in that case the edges of the
sheets would not stick together?
Mr. CHIVERS: No. The spirit very quickly evaporates and leaves a
coating upon the edge of the paper. Last year at Pasadena I was able to
show the edge of a piece of paper before and after treatment, and dealt
with quickly it is not glutinous in any way, and the application is
perfectly successful.
Mr. BOWKER: I would like to ask Mr. Chivers if it would not be
practical to dip the newspapers by some such process as is used in the
development of moving picture films or kodak films. They have rollers
which carry the paper quickly through the solution.
Mr. CHIVERS: That occurred to me, but, if you will remember, I said the
substance is a solution in spirit, which very quickly evaporates. The
rollers might get clogged up in the course of a minute or two.
Dr. ANDREWS: Has the committee ever investigated the process used by
the New York State library for the restoration of its manuscripts
which came so near total destruction. The result there seemed to be
admirable, but the process might be too expensive.
Mr. HILL: I would say, Mr. Chairman, that the committee had two or
three letters from Mr. Wyer, the director of the library, but I do not
think he mentioned that. He may be able to answer the question himself.
Mr. RANCK: I would like to ask if the committee gave any consideration
to the temperature and humidity of the rooms in which the newspapers
were kept, as having some bearing on the life of the paper.
Mr. CHIVERS: Some attention was given to that in the British Museum.
The papers are carefully kept. The temperature there does not vary as
it does in America. Sometimes it is humid more or less, but it does not
vary so much. It is the action, not of the humidity, but of light and
air itself upon the paper which produces early decomposition.
May I say in reply to Dr. Andrews that we certainly took into
consideration the covering of the newspaper with other paper or some
other material, and it is altogether too expensive. The report that
I was able to give of the action of cellit meets the difficulty in a
better way, and for a fraction of the cost and trouble.
The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: On behalf of the executive board the chair
is requested to announce the appointment of the following committee on
resolutions: Dr. Reuben G. Thwaites, chairman; Miss Mary W. Plummer,
Mr. Judson T. Jennings.
The dainty bit of literature which appeared in connection with the
first issue of the program and bulletin, bearing the signature of the
president of this association, strong and persuasive as it was dainty,
renders unnecessary any introduction by the present chairman to the
program of this morning. The topics, as you will note, are attractive,
they are in the hands of those competent to speak upon them, they
grow out of the forceful keynote address at the initial meeting of
this association; like the branches from a tree, they are consistent
parts of the whole. We will begin by listening to MR. CARL H. MILAM,
secretary of the Indiana public library commission, who will speak on