The Architectural Records Roundtable
of the Society of American Archivists
Preservation of Architectural Records
Architectural records include a variety of material and physical types that must be individually assessed in terms of preservation needs.
Material types of records commonly found in architectural records collections are:
- Original drawings - working drawings, colored renderings, structural drawings, sketchbooks, trace papers, and tracing cloth, such as linens
- Reproductions - blueprints, sepias, white lines, photographic, hectographic, photomechanical, plotter prints
- Documentation - specifications, planning documents, office records, photographs, films, videos, oral histories, computer records
- Three-dimensional objects - architectural models, plaster maquettes, awards, original office furniture, product samples
Physical types of materials degrade at different rates and through different processes based on chemical composition. Physical types typically represented in architectural records collections include:
- Papers
- Plastics
- Wood
- Photographic material
- Adhesives
- Art media
- Magnetic and digital media
Factors to consider regarding preservation of architectural records include exposure to light, heat, and relative humidity, as well as the presence of biological agents, such as pests and mold. The goal is to maintain a stable environment suitable for the particular type of records in a collection.
For further information on preservation of architectural records, see:
Alexander Architectural Archive, Storage and Care of Architectural Records, http://www.lib.utexas.edu/apl/aaa/storagecare.html
Hammill, Michele E. "Washingtoniana II: conservation of architectural drawings at the Library of Congress," Book and Paper Group Annual 12. Washington, DC: Book and Paper Group (BPG) of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, 1993. (available at http://aic.stanford.edu/sg/bpg/annual/v12/bp12-08.html )
Kissel, Eléonore and Erin Vigneau. Architectural photoreproductions: a manual for identification, 1st ed. New Castle, Del.: Oak Knoll Press; Bronx, N.Y.: New York Botanical Garden, 1999. (UC)
Lowell, Waverly and Tawny Ryan Nelb. Architectural Records: Managing Design And Construction Records. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2006.