Kovács Petronella (szerk.): Isis - Erdélyi magyar restaurátor füzetek 6. (Székelyudvarhely, 2007)
Kiss Hédy: A Székely Nemzeti Múzeumban őrzött zászlók állapotfelmérése
Éva BENEDEK- Emese BÍRÓ - Kisanna BARABÁS Care of the books and the archival materials collected from depopulating parishes in the R.C. Saint John the Baptist rectory in Marosvásárhely The Ministry of National Cultural Heritage Protection of Hungary has conducted a competition from 2002 to rescue the books and the documents of depopulating parishes and parsonages left without priests in Transylvania. The R.C. church Saint John the Baptist and the Episcopal Office in Marosvásárhely (Târgu Mures) took the responsibility of storing the significant quantity of 16th—20th century material collected from Mezősámsond, Székelyhodos, Marosjára, Jobbágyfalva, Jobbágytelke, Dicsőszentmárton, Ákosfalva, Székelyvécke, Egrestő, Alsójára, Sinfalva, etc. villages in the course of a few years. Before checking and disinfection, the books and the documents were separately stored on wooden shelves prepared for the purpose in the basement of the new study centre Deus Providebit raised in the yard of the church. A part of the books were prepared from-handmade rag paper and printed with black and coloured pigments of natural bases, while the raw material of the books from the 19th—20th centuries contained groundwood and synthetic pigments were often used in printing. The latter ones are weaker and their colour is slightly yellowish. The bindings of the books are calf, ox cattle-hide of vegetable tanning and pigskin of alum tawing. Synthetic leather and textile bindings were also found in a few cases. The covers boards are generally made of paper, only a few are beech and oak panels. A part of the archival collection consisted of highquality paper written in black or dark brown iron-gallic ink. Modem ink was found on lower quality acidic papers of the 19th-20th centuries, and a few items were typed on copying paper. Most of the books and documents were preserved in a good condition, while a few items were significantly damaged showing traces of active mould on the leaves. The analyses made in the micro-biological laboratory of the Sapientia Transylvanian Hungarian University of Sciences at Csíkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc) demonstrated beds developed from the spores of two mould species: Aspergillus fumigatus fresenius and Aspergillus sp. This necessitated disinfection. All the books and the documents were placed in plastic bags and crystalline paraformaldehyde was put beside them in small pouches. The chemical was left in the bags for 48-64 hours. The developing formaldehyde destroys bacteria, mould spores and other biological parasites. Then the books and the documents were watched for 24 hours in a metal chest prepared for this purpose. For the sake of a more effective disinfection, 0.5-1% solution of Preventol CMK (para- chlorine chloro-meta-krezol) in ethyl alcohol was applied on the leaves of the books and the documents that had been attacked by active mould. On the bindings, 1—1.5 % solution of Sterogenol in ethyl alcohol was also applied. After disinfection, a part of the archival material was sprayed with the non-watery neutralizing solution Wei T,0® Spray No. 12 (magnesium metoxide and methyl-magnesium-carbonate: MMMC). The disinfected leaves were desiccated in the open being covered with medical gauze to protect them from the sunlight. The leaves of the collection were dusted with brushes then they were open in a fan shape to be aired. Some of the leather bindings were desiccated and brittle, and on certain bindings the over-sizing of the leather could be observed probably in result of the dissolution of the tanning agent. Several wooden panels were damaged by insects. Many bunches of documents tied up with threads suffered mechanic mechanical injuries, the edges got split and brittle. The leather bindings that suffered chemical and biological damages were treated and softened with a sort of fat liquor containing surfactant cleaners, materials that replace the lost fat and the moisture content and regenerating agents, which was suggested by the National Széchényi Library (Hungary). Then a conserving paste prepared after the recipe of the National Library of Moscow was applied on the surfaces. White dirt and mould could be observed on certain synthetic leather bindings. Their colour and texture became more pleasant after being wiped with 30% watery solution of glycerine. The treated books and documents will be stored in closed wooden cabinets with glass doors prepared for this purpose on the choir of the church. The poorly preserved books of folio sizes were wrapped in medical gauze to be stored in a horizontal position. The documents were placed in cardboard folders. We hope that storing in closed cabinets will protect the collection from the eventual fluctuations of the temperature and the moisture in the church. Our suggestion concerning the ideal storage conditions was: 15-20 °C, 44-55% RH and 50 lux. The work is being carried on and the authentic elaboration of the books and he documents has been started. Eva Benedek Paper-leather conservator artist MA Csíki Székely Museum Csíkszereda Miercurea CiucVár tér 2. Emese Bíró Referent Cultural Centre of Hargita County, Miercurea Ciuc Csíkszereda Kisanna Barabás Museologist Archives of the Saint John the Baptist Rectory Marosvásárhely Târgu Mureş Krisztina MÁRTON 87
