Increase Mather's Cases of Conscience Concerning Witchcraft is a collection of manuscript pages and was previously bound in a marbled paper case that was not original to the handwritten pages. Due to the fragility and acidity of this paper case, it had since split from the sewing structure, which was no longer keeping the manuscript pages together. In preparation for the Religious Change exhibition, the book underwent a simple treatment. We gave it a new conservation paper case that would not only protect the manuscript pages, but also the new sewing structure. Awls were used to ensure the original sewing holes were utilized [first image] as the book received a simple pamphlet stitch sewing structure. Thanks to sewing the book into a new case of archival quality paper, Mather's pages are not only ready for exhibit but are also safely protected in this conservation binding and thus usable for research for decades to come.
Kasie Janssen, Conservator for Special Projects
