The John J. Burns Library is showcasing an exhibition entitled “Conservation History: Irish Roots and Boston Craftsmanship.”  The exhibition celebrates the bookbinding and conservation history of Burns Library, and the contribution each individual conservator has made to the conservation and preservation of the “treasures” Burns holds.

The Burns Library was founded in 1986, and is located in the Bapst building.  The library holds 250,000 volumes and 16 millions manuscripts with a climate controlled environment for an on-site conservation lab.  Its conservation history extends to 1989, when then Burns Librarian Robert O’Neill appointed the first conservator Marilyn Heskett.  The exhibition commemorates the 20th anniversary of the presence of the conservators and their work in the Burns.

The conservation history of the library has an important Irish connection that the exhibition explores fully.  William Anthony, and Irish born and apprenticed conservator, founded the bookbinding program at the prestigious North Bennett School, at which Mark Esser, a future Burns conservator, studied at.  Esser went on to teach at the bookbinding program at North Bennett.  The display cases showcase the “master work” Esser bound, and the books truly are beautiful.  Martin Luther’s Ausburg Confession, (1580) was bound in the 16th-century style, with white leather and gold filigree.  WB Yeats’ Mosada (1886) was also bound in a green leather covering which matches the original binding as closely as possible. The display also showcased photos of Esser using tools “that would have been familiar with” bookbinders in the 17th century while at Boston College.

Esser also widely contributed to the more everyday matters concerning the look and content of conservation reports.  He updated both, and also was a proponent of producing digital photo documentation of treatments, in order to better record the conservation process.

Merilyn Heskett, Esser’s student at the North Bennett School, preceded him as conservator.  Heskett served from 1989 – 1994, and previously worked at the Library of Congress before becoming conservator at Burns Library.

Heskett was responsible for lobbying for funds for and ultimately setting up the conservation lab.  The funds for the top-of-the-line lab were obtained from the Frank M. Barnard foundation helped the lab get a high-quality Vagelli-brand standing press.  Heskett also started the Bookbuilders of Boston internship program, in which 1 or 2 students study the art of bookbinding and conservation.

Barbara Adams Hebard, the current conservator, started her tenure as conservator in 2009.  She also studied under Esser at North Bennett, and was a conservator from 1990 – 2009 at the Boston Athenaeum previous to coming to BC.  Hebard is working on storage modification for the rare materials kept in Burns’ “Treasure Room.” She is now working on the second phase of the storage project, which entails creating custom drop-spine boxes for the “Treasure Room” books. An example of these beautiful drop-spine boxes is on display at the exhibit. Hebard has continued the Bookbuilders internship program.

Justine Sundaran, Reference Librarian, commented on the importance of conservation at Burns, and Hebard’s contributions to the digitization and storage modification for the “Treasure Room.”  The university’s commitment to the “preservation and dissemination of human knowledge” is evidenced in the work that Hebard and past conservators have done.