Restoring water-soaked papers and textiles: applying freeze-drying methods to books and art objects

The article describes the vacuum drying and sterilization techniques used in preservation of books and documents after the 1972 fire in the Temple University Law Library. A G.E. Space Division thermal-vacuum space simulation chamber was used for freeze-drying and fumigating the books. The operation could be done in three 24-hour cycles. A detailed description of the process is given.