The Kitty Knight Questers How interested people have helped preserve records for future Marylanders

The Historical Society of Kent County Maryland On May 21 st, members of the Kent County Historical Society visited the Maryland State Archives Geddes-Piper House Headquarters of The Historical Society of Kent County Maryland

Ann Burris was one of the 27 visitors from the Historical Society of Kent County. Seeing how many records were in urgent need of conservation made quite an impression on her.

Kitty Knight Questers the Kent Co. chapter of Questers International Questers International, Philadelphia Headquarters Ms. Burris, also a member of the Kitty Knight Questers, convinced her fellow Questers that preservation of Kent County historical records was a worthy cause.

She inquired about the possibility that the Questers could fund treatment for specific books. Eila Bennett, then President of the Kitty Knight Questers, wrote the Archives a month later, to ask how the Questers could help.

Four volumes of original Kent County Court Records in dire need of treatment were identified by Pat Melville

Vicki Lee, Chief Conservator, assessed their condition and proposed treatments.

The Kitty Knight Questers received a grant from the Maryland Questers, and raised a matching funds themselves. The treatment of two of the four books could now proceed.

Paper weakened by the effects of Iron Gaul Ink could be mended.

This book had been re-bound. Removal of its brown glue proved more difficult than expected. Research and testing lead us to the use hot water repeatedly to whittle down the glue.

With entries beginning in 1694, this is one of the earliest Kent County records in our collection.

Mended signatures were then carefully scanned by Jill Ludlum. These scans were then transcribed by Jean Russo and Jean Elliot Russo.

The scans and transcriptions of both books are available online through the Archives of Maryland Online

The remains of this book’s original cover were preserved with the insertion of a new piece of vellum

Protective custom Phase boxes were made for both books These boxes will further protect the books from abrasion, climate change, dust…

On October 18th, the Kitty Knight Questers visited the Archives

Mending supplies, as well as the books themselves. They were an attentive audience, and enjoyed the in-depth description of treatment

During Vicki’s explanations, Jenn passed around materials. Treatment photos cycled through simultaneously.

The Questers toured the Conservation Lab, And then Stacks.

In the next few years, the Questers hope to win a grant for treatment of The other two books, from their international organization.