Brad and I are talking about how to get copies without destroying the  
80-year old plans. Paul has given me great suggestions as to where to seek help,  as 
has Roberta S. Greenwood. My primary concern right now is getting the plans  
flattened out without breaking down the paper, so will be looking into paper  
conservators. I probably will drive up to Brad's office at North County  
Blueprint for his opinion. At least a plan is taking shape.
 
While finding a cache of Frank O. Wells plans is very exciting, it reminds  
me of all the field maps I prepared over the years that probably have also  
turned yellow from contact with acidic paper. All our photographic prints, field  
maps, field notes, lab drawings, data cards etc. are subject to light-fade, 
acid  deterioration, insect eating, dust wear, and decay over time. 
Archaeologists  sometimes laugh that their artifacts are stone and will last forever, but 
their  catalog numbers, bags, and boxes will not. The artifact becomes just 
another  rock with all the provenience lost in a century. Cheery thought, I 
know, but  something we all need to think about.
 
And, I am very leery of scanned images surviving long into the future.  There 
is nothing as good as the original document. We have already discussed the  
deterioration of CD, tape, video, and microfilm on HISTARCH. What kind of  
machinery will be around in 100-years that can read an image scanned in  2006?
 
Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.