Title: Stidham Diary
Author: Joseph H. Stidham
Published/Created: 1836-38
Owner: Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscript & Printed Ephemera, Winterthur Library
Dimensions: H 16.7cm x W 10.7cm x D 1.8cm
This book is part of the Stidham Diaries collection, which includes a mix of bound and unbound items made from various materials. The collection is unique because all items were “homemade” by the diarist, Joseph H. Stidham. The treatment project for the Stidham Diaries collection was developed by Lindsey Zachman, Yan Ling Choi, and Karissa Muratore, WUDPAC Class of 2020. The project’s goal is to stabilize the items for long-term access, handling, and storage while preserving both the written content and the unique original binding features.
This particular volume features a leather spine with blue laminated paper covers. Most of the textblock is sewn on tapes, while the last two sections appear to have been added later and are sewn directly through the leather spine. This tight spine design likely caused significant stress on the sewing and spine, resulting in splitting leather and broken sewing. The first and last sections are completely detached, with several additional sections loose. The leather is also deformed, stiff, and delaminating.
I chose not to fully flatten the deformed leather caps, as they provide evidence of the book’s use over time. Instead, I mended the splits from the inside to prevent further damage. Since the last few sections continued to put stress on the spine, it was decided to keep the last detached section out of the book, housed separately with a label. The remaining loose and detached sections were spot-sewn, while the broken sewing on the spine exterior was consolidated by applying Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste. This treatment was carried out in consultation with Melissa Tedone.
