Introduction

In libraries, we traditionally house rectangular, book-shaped materials.  So when a collection of buttons, ribbons and medals entered the lab from the Public Library, our eyes widened as we peered inside the chaos filled box!  Initially, we were unsure of how to make order of all the parts for better storage.

This collection of political ephemera was received in a non-archival black banker’s box.  It consisted of approximately 13 ribbons, 17 pinback buttons, and 9 metals dating to the late 1800’s and onward.

In the late 19th century, political ephemera like this was once prolific and cheap to produce. It wasn’t until the rise of the celluloid (plastic) button that political ribbons fell out of fashion. After many years of storage, the ribbons were creased, crumpled and interspersed with heavy medals, sharp pins, and acidic envelopes.  All components were in need of archival storage containers for long-term preservation, to separate the parts to keep them from damaging each other and to make them easier to handle.

Ashleigh and Chris took on the challenge of housing these non-traditional library materials so as to facilitate future display and exhibition.

Evaluation

Being a book and paper conservator (not an objects or textile conservator!), Ashleigh first started by brainstorming housing options: 

• Prior storage solutions by the lab were referenced, such as:
  • Medals mounted with polyester strapping to a cloth covered mat
  • A collection of steamboat keys mounted with ties to corrugated board supports
  • A pin mounted to a cloth covered support, stored within a pamphlet binder
• After consulting with the Cincinnati Art Museum textile conservator, Obie Linn, Ashleigh quickly ruled out placing silk ribbons into polyester sleeves or bags since static cling issues could be detrimental to fragile fabric.  Storing the items within foam recesses was suggested as an alternative.
• Some of the buttons and medals were magnetic, so magnets were considered to prevent parts from sliding (such as how tin type photographs can be non-adhesively mounted with rare earth magnets). 
• Other components that were not magnetic could be secured with ties or straps.
• Small metal buttons without fabric (that could easily become lost!) were candidates to store in baggies, similarly to how the University of Kansas Libraries describe housing this collection of pins on their blog.
• It also became clear that minor treatment was needed including surface cleaning and humidification to reduce creasing in the ribbons and to encourage proper orientation of the parts during storage.  This would also help prepare the items for future exhibition.

Since many parts had varying needs, the items were first grouped by size, type, and if they were magnetic.  Once grouped, standardized mount sizes were determined so that no matter what size the ribbons were, they would all fit together inside the same sized box.  Additionally, a few ribbons were grouped together on one mount to save space.

Rudimentary plans were drawn to decide how the groups and parts would eventually be configured into one enclosure.  For example, what would make more sense for library storage on a shelf – to orient the final enclosure as a rectangle or square?  We went with a rectangle since many shelves at the library have a narrow depth.

Custom Mat Board Mounts with Foam

Chris’ first task was to cut sink mats made with custom Plastizote and Volara polyethylene foam spacers to protect the ribbons from shifting during storage. Ashleigh had previously mounted a few ribbons to museum rag mat board as models, giving him a head start and model for packaging the remaining ribbons. After adhering the polyethylene foam to the mat board with PVA, the mounts were pressed for over a week allowing them to off-gas and dry flat.

Many of the ribbons were adorned with metal parts such as metal tassels, anchors, eagles or portraits embossed on discs like coins.  Using the Our Standard ribbon as our standard for mounting (see image below), the ribbons were stored similarly, but with slight variations.  Our Standard was first protected within a polyethylene foam custom cut spacer.  The metal eagle pin was then secured to the mat board backing with 18/3 linen thread.  After looping around the pin, the thread was threaded through holes punched in the mat board backing.  Tyvek tape sealed the thread knot at rear. To hold the unruly metal tassels securely to the mat, a 3/16 inch polyethylene strap was inserted into slits cut into the mat board backing and was secured on the back with Tyvek tape.

Similarly, Chris mounted a Democratic metal with an anchor using 18/3 linen thread tied to the mat board mount. In addition, a scrap of a CoLibri jacket was repurposed and customized into a large polyester strap.  It was placed between the metal anchor and ribbon to prevent abrasion as the anchor is affixed by a small chain and swings freely upon the ribbon.

The largest item, a six-inch diameter coin with the bust of McKinley, was sewn to the mat board as previously described; however, this big old coin also came with a detached pin.  Chris creatively added it to the corner with tiny spacers and polyethylene straps.

A smaller McKinley medallion was tension mounted alongside another small presidential ribbon. No other mounting solution was needed for this round object other than a circular cut-out in the foam that held the object snugly in place.

Flat Ribbons vs. 3-Dimensional Ribbons

Flat silk ribbons without any added pins or components were stored flat within folders of unbuffered interleaving tissue.  The folders were placed on top of unbuffered rag mat board for storage.  To prevent the folders from sliding off the mat board when handled, polyethylene strapping was wrapped around the boards and adhered to itself with double stick tape (similar to strapping a book).  In the future, the ribbons could be pulled out of the folders and exhibited on the provided mat board supports with the strapping.

Flat ribbons were stored in unbuffered interleaving.

Ribbons with dimensionality were stored with extra layers of foam surrounding them.  The foam was built up to the height of the highest point of the object to prevent them from getting knocked during storage.  Ribbons also needed interior supports to keep their shapes over time, and to prevent the fabric from flattening.   In these cases, unbuffered interleaving tissue was inserted below cloth badges with pleated cloth. Rolls of polyester film were also inserted inside the loops of a black cloth ribbon.  The rolled polyester film is intended for storage and can be removed for display.

Extra supports were added to badges with dimensional fabric parts.

The set of badges with extra dimension were also challenging to mount.  They did not have convenient places for strapping or tying with thread.  Instead, rare earth magnets were attached to the back of the mats to hold the parts in place.  Weak rare earth magnets were also used on the front of Andrew Jackson’s badge. The magnets on the front were wrapped with unbuffered interleaving tissue to provide handles for lifting that can easily be removed for exhibition.  Magnets on the back were covered with Tyvek tape. These magnets gave just enough hold to secure these in place for storage.

Magnets helped hold this group of badges to their support.

Buttons

In addition to ribbons, this collection had many buttons, coins and trinkets such as these:

These parts were not matted.  Instead, the loose metals and coins were sealed individually in polyethylene bags. Within the bags, the pins and coins were given support with thin cardstock. Because metal objects and photographs share similar long-term preservation needs, buttons were pinned to unbuffered cardstock that is traditionally used for storing photographs.  Once bagged, they were grouped together by size and type in preparation for the next phase of boxing.   

Metal buttons and badges were pinned to cardstock and sealed from humidity inside baggies.

Putting It All Together As One Collection

Now that all the parts were individually protected for storage, it was time to group them together in boxes.

Ribbons were grouped together inside tuxedo boxes. 

Mourning ephemera were housed together within a tuxedo box.  Pins in honor of Lincoln’s death were stored in an envelope while ribbons were stored on mat board sink mats with polyester strapping

A corrugated banker’s box holds the bagged buttons and coins. Removable spacers make flipping and viewing the buttons easier.

All contents of this collection were then assembled by Chris in a beautiful cloth covered clamshell. A foam bumper was added along the outer edge of the bottom tray to add space for hands to slide out the tux boxes.

Chris Voynovich (CHPL) – Conservation Assistant

Ashleigh Ferguson Schieszer (CHPL) – Conservator, Co-Lab Manager

To learn more about political ephemera, check out this article by the House of Representatives titled, What Killed the Political Ribbon?