After 25 years of service to the Seminary and Library, Mrs. Judy Howie will be retiring in June. Please join us in thanking Judy for her faithful service!! library.mbts.edu/news/mrs-judy-…

New project of conservation - The New Park Street Almanack (rb.gy/e140) edited by CH Spurgeon. Follow the restoration process. Spine nearly detached- what is beneath?

Excellent opportunity to see a genuine book treasure of the Scriptures blog.smu.edu/bridwellnews/2…

#OTD in Southwestern Seminary History, we remember Lura Hawk Reynolds, "Miss Lou," who died in 1971. Miss Lou taught piano in School of Church Music and Worship for 42 years, from 1915-1957. She also performed as a contralto soloist in the annual production of Handel's "Messiah" for over 25 yrs. #ArchivesatSWBTS

Next steps in the conservation. Lifting leather on cover with spatula to insert new leather hinge. Create small notch- so new hinge will wrap correctly. Detached spine to be reconditioned. Book is collection of pamphlets bound with sawn spine now loose & needs to strengthened.

Continuing restoration on Spurgeon’s Almanack (rb.gy/e140 ) Paste detached page using acid-free paste and Unryu Tissue Kozo. Thread broken which will require hand sewing.

Preservation can include saving handwritten family recipes. Follow this process of transformation from a notebook into book stored in a handcrafted box with a drawer. First step - trim off the fraying spine.

Conservation continues on this Spurgeon title ( rb.gy/e140) Page is now reattached with Kozo. Six signatures repaired using finest Irish linen thread around premium hemp cords thinned which will lie in the precut tracks from original binding. This took 3.5 hours.

Restoration of Spurgeon book @ SWBTLibraries. Mounted into a finishing press protected between soft felt. Apply paste with a stipple brush to insure it reaches into the indentations between the sections (signatures). Japanese Kozo paper is tapped gently over the hemp cords.

Work continues on the restoration of Spurgeon book @ SWBTLibraries. Adding another strip of heavier weight Kozo on the spine to insure structure. Paste and allow to dry for several days.

I had the privilege of viewing a critical historic piece of Judeo-Christian scripture, Codex Sassoon, at the Bridwell Library (and connecting with fellow theological librarians). Read about it - smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the…

Enjoying a professional rugby game - Dallas Jackals in Choctaw Stadium

Spurgeon book restoration @ SWBTLibraries. Discovered it needs another strip of heavier weight Kozo on the spine to insure structure. Matching color to period headbands were replaced. Allowing to dry. Always placed between soft felt for maximum protection of the leather cover.

Spurgeon book restoration @ SWBTS Libraries. New leather hinge of vegetable dyed Irish goat hide. Labor intensive to paste & fold new leather under original cover leather. Corners are also sealed. Allowing to dry & original spine will be added in the final steps next week.

Conservation staff removed this tape using a warm air tool to soften the adhesive. The tool allows the warm air to be precisely targeted at the tape. The tears in the document under the tape will be carefully realigned and mended. #TapeIsEvil #PreservationMonth

Completed the restoration of the Spurgeon book — # SWBTS Libraries. The hinge and spine are now restored with leather and all the pages secure. This restoration was about 20 hours of work. Including before and after photos. Next restoration selected - it has some challenges.

The next restoration project for SWBTS Libraries is the Johann Tobias Krebs’ writing “Observationes in Novum Testamentum e Flavio Josepho” from 1755. This is a New Testament interpretation title. swbts.searchmobius.org/record=b115001… Urgent concern is the black mold in the lower arrowed spot.

Completed conservation project of Mother-in-law’s recipes. Notebooks were bound into a single volume, Mylar box constructed for recipe clippings, and finally a clam-shell box constructed. Engineered for aesthetics and usability. She had an opportunity to see the final project.

Completed restoration of Dr. Chris Shirley’s copy of “In His Steps.” Needed spine work, end sheets, and new book cloth to reattach the cover. Big thank you to Karelian Murray (Clampitt Paper Co)help find best paper match. Clampitt is a treasure & Karlein is a gracious ambassador.

Returning to restoration project for SWBTS Libraries, Johann Tobias Krebs’ writing “Observationes in Novum Testamentum e Flavio Josepho” 1755. Discovered under donation label the signature of Dr. E. Robinson of Union Theological Seminary-the father of Biblical geography