Photograph Conservation — The Conservation Center

The Photography Department strives to preserve photographic works so that they will be available for the appreciation and study of future generations.

Given the diversity of photographs, each picture is treated individually to maintain its historical integrity and the artist’s original intent.

The Center’s photograph conservators have an in-depth understanding of the conservation of photography and its history, treating pieces that range from fine art photography to family portraits and everyday snapshots.

The photography conservators treat a multitude of works, including tintypes, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, sepia, black and white, color, hand-colored, and contemporary photographic prints, including chromogenic and lambda. For sentimental photographs that have been severely damaged, our Digital Restoration Department can help provide an alternative photo restoration solution.

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Stories related to photograph conservation

corporate collections and the conservation center: saving lasalle bank's photography collection

When The Conservation Center was called in to rescue and preserve LaSalle Bank’s extensive photography collection following a fire, the benefits of precautionary steps were obvious. Though a few photographs too close to the core of the fire were irreversibly charred, the majority of the collection was repairable in part due to the professional matting and framing. Without proper housing, those photographs which had escaped the fire itself might have been water damaged by fire hoses, or marred by soot and smoke.

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