Fourth Friday From the Archives: Demystifying Conservation Ethics and Methods

Fourth Friday From the Archives Series
Demystifying Conservation Ethics and Methods Used in Caring for Georgia’s Official Records by Assistant Conservator Tracey Johnson

Preservation and, more specifically, conservation are seen as “behind-the-scenes” activities, yet they are arguably the most important within any collecting institution; for how can access be provided to records if they aren’t properly maintained in the first place? Assistant Conservator Tracey Johnson gives a brief overview of the preservation field and how the Georgia Archives has evolved along with changing methodologies to best maintain the state’s records.

Tracey has worked at the Georgia Archives since 2014. She has over 18 years of experience in cultural heritage institutions performing many different roles, and believes that her love of crafting, engineering, preservation, and history converged into her dream job here at the Archives. She holds a BA in English Literature with a Minor in History from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from Kent State University. While focusing on knowledge organization systems and access to information during her studies, she discovered a passion for preserving archival documents, which eventually introduced her to the magical discipline of conservation.