James Needham Gives $1 Million to Endow Chief Conservatorship for Special Collections
The Harvard University Library is pleased to announce a gift from James W. Needham, endowing the position of Chief Conservator for Special Collections in the Harvard University Library and the Harvard College Library. The Needham Conservator will play a key role in developing a program for the care and treatment of the extraordinary rare book, manuscript, and photograph collections throughout Harvard's libraries and archives. Many of the materials in these collections are of incalculable importance to scholars worldwide and are at great risk if they continue to be used without benefit of conservation.
In making the gift, James W. Needham, a member of the Overseer's Committee to Visit the University Library, said, "The decision to support a Library goal in contributing to the University Campaign came naturally to me. I owe a large debt to the countless librarians who have patiently helped me over many years, and to their libraries which have painstakingly preserved our past and made it available to me.
"Librarians have to meet the conflicting goals of preservation and access. When they emphasize the latter, which I favor, there is inevitable wear and tear and occasional other misfortunes. Hence the need for conservators, to add more centuries of useful life to the collections."
"The Harvard University Library is one of the world's great resources. I am happy to have a small role in keeping it so."
Sidney Verba, Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor and Director of the University Library, commented, "Jim Needham has long been a supporter of the Harvard Library. His gift reflects his thoughtful understanding of our priorities and his own personal concern with preserving the wonderful and unique materials we have in the Library."
Nancy M. Cline, Roy E. Larsen Librarian of Harvard College, said, "Jim Needham's gift to our preservation programs has had an energizing effect on the Library. Over the years, Harvard has been able to build some outstanding research collections but we have not been able to attend to the wide range of preservation needs that have been identified - needs that are particularly critical in the rare and special collections. Now, with the endowment of the Chief Conservator's position, there is a growing enthusiasm among the librarians and curators that we will be able to move forward in providing the level of care that these collections deserve."
The Needham Chief Conservator for Special Collections will manage the conservation laboratory in the Harvard University Library Preservation Center, dedicated solely to treatment of special collections. He or she will be an experienced, well-trained rare book conservator whose efforts will complement the work of Elizabeth Morse, Paper Conservator, who manages the treatment of manuscripts, prints, and other rare and valuable unbound paper items.
Conserving items with high artifactual value involves detailed examination, often under a high-power microscope; written and photographic documentation; and developing detailed treatment plans. Conserving individual items is often preceded by a survey of a whole collection (all volumes in a particular subject area, for example, or acquired by a particular collector) to develop a context within which to assess a particular piece. Treatments can range from simple cleaning to complete disbinding, washing and repairing pages, resewing, and rebinding. Often wrappers and boxes are constructed to protect materials from light, dust, and mechanical damage - as a complement to, or instead of, treatment. Papers, adhesives, thread, cloth, leather, and other conservation materials are scrutinized to assess their mechanical and chemical stability; and are carefully chosen, project by project. All repair and rebinding is carried out with the goal of preserving historical evidence.
Developing a comprehensive program to care for Harvard's rare books, photographs, and other special collections will require collaboration with various partners throughout the University. Librarians and curators will work with the Needham Conservator to identify priorities and to shape conservation strategies consistent with the nature of particular collections and the ways in which scholars and researchers use them.
The development of a centralized laboratory to conserve the libraries' great treasures ensures that rare book and paper conservators, visiting professionals, and interns can learn from each other and support each other's work; that excellence and productivity are optimized; and that expensive equipment is not duplicated. The efforts of the lab will be bolstered by other Harvard initiatives, including a program for conserving the nearly 8 million volumes in the general research collections of the Harvard College Library, which is being expanded under the leadership of Nancy Schrock, Chief Collections Conservator for HCL. She and the Needham Conservator will work together closely to ensure that the two initiatives complement and strengthen one another.