This is the first in a series of blog posts devoted to the conservation being performed on the documents, books and manuscript materials in the Chew Family Papers Collection.
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Inset Boxes are created for items that need to be housed together or for smaller books. The boxes are constructed of a heavy-weight (20-pt. thickness) acid-free library board, with flaps to close over the inset portion. The box is then inserted into a custom-made slipcase.
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Creating custom enclosures for books and papers is necessary from a conservation and preservation standpoint. Enclosures are made in a variety of ways, specific to the needs of the collection material using chemically stable materials. Housing collection materials in a box or wrapper helps to provide protection from the threat of any environemental issues (such as dust, light, or moisture) and eases stress on a book as it is moved on and off a shelf.
Multi-Use Boxes are constructed of corrugated acid-free blue board to the specific measurements of the material. The box opens like a clamshell and is made to be able to sit upright on a shelf like a book.
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Compartments can be created for odd-sized objects or multiple items.
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For special items, a cloth-covered Clamshell Box is constructed. Clam-shell boxes provide the same protection as a multi-use box, but allow for a much nicer presentation. Intern Ansley Joe created this clamshell box for a leather journal/case belonging to Elizabeth B. Chew.
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3228.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3230.jpg)
Multi-Use Boxes are constructed of corrugated acid-free blue board to the specific measurements of the material. The box opens like a clamshell and is made to be able to sit upright on a shelf like a book.
![](/sites/default/files/images/multi-use_box.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/images/mini_multi-use_box.jpg)
Compartments can be created for odd-sized objects or multiple items.
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3217.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3218.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3216.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3212.jpg)
For special items, a cloth-covered Clamshell Box is constructed. Clam-shell boxes provide the same protection as a multi-use box, but allow for a much nicer presentation. Intern Ansley Joe created this clamshell box for a leather journal/case belonging to Elizabeth B. Chew.
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3228.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3230.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3229.jpg)
Inset Boxes are created for items that need to be housed together or for smaller books. The boxes are constructed of a heavy-weight (20-pt. thickness) acid-free library board, with flaps to close over the inset portion. The box is then inserted into a custom-made slipcase.
The book is easily lifted out of its compartment by a piece of cotton tape attached to a flap of 20-pt.
Other enclosures performed on materials in the Chew Papers Collection are Wrappers. This approach is best for books or pamphlets that are too thin to create a multi-use box for, but require protective housing.
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3242.jpg)
![](/sites/default/files/images/img_3238.jpg)