Timothy Barrett Wins Major Grant

The University of Iowa (UI) Center for the Book is happy to announce a major grant won by Timothy Barrett. Tim has merited a $184,000 award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The UICB’s research scientist and paper specialist, Barrett is the principal investigator for a grant to study paper composition from the 15th to 19th centuries, in order to better understand preservation and care decisions for collections.

Tim Barrett, a UI Center for the Book research scientist and original grant writer as well as a member of the Iowa Center for the Book (State Library), said a large portion of paper from the earlier centuries is still in exceptional condition.

"In spite of the fact it's more than 500 years old, many of these sheets are still surprisingly light in color, supple and strong," Barrett said. "This research will attempt to learn more about why they are so exceptionally stable, and why many other papers from later centuries are prone to rapid degradation."

The IMLS Conservation Support Program grant made to Barrett, with the UI Museum of Art (UIMA) acting as administrative host, was one of 40 awarded from a pool of 144 applications. Conservation Project Support awards help museums identify conservation needs and priorities and perform activities to ensure the safekeeping of their collections.

You can read more about the award here.