A.P. Schmidt & Silent Film Batch Treatment

Owner: Library of Congress, Music Division

A.P. Schmidt Project Summary: The Arthur P. Schmidt Company archives provide a rich resource for studying American music from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, comprising music, correspondence, business records, and related documents. In this project, Verónica surveyed and treated 1280 music sheets stored in 6 archival boxes earmarked for digitization.

Silent Film Project Summary: The collection comprises over 3,000 items produced for silent film accompaniment between 1904 and 1927, including film-specific scores, cue sheets, and stock music. These materials range from piano scores to full orchestral arrangements, instrumental parts, and melodic incipits. In this project, Verónica assisted the Conservation Division in surveying and treating 250 music sheets stored in 2 archival boxes designated for digitization.

Condition Overview (both collections presented similar condition issues): Overall surface grime; tears; creases; losses.

Treatment overview (both collections required same treatment approach): (1) Dry cleaning with soft bristled brush, cosmetic spones and/or eraser crumbs. (2) Conducted page repair with heat reactivated Aquazol 500 tissue. (3) Rehoused music sheets in Permalife folders or Mylar sleeves.