User:Spokenword18/William James Barrow (investigator)

William James Barrow (1904-1967) was an American investigator of the causes and remedies of document deterioration. He was an innovator and entrepreneur. Barrow developed the first practical roller-type laminator and established a research facility located in Richmond, Virginia where he became highly recognized for his pioneering achievements in the preservation and conservation of historical documents. In honor of William Barrow's contributions to the library and archival professions, he was recognized as one of the "100 of the most important leaders we had in the 20th Century" according to the American Libraries. Additionally, this research submission of William J. Barrows' contributions to the library and archival professions is part of an ongoing project of the Masters of Library and Information Science program at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

Although Barrow never completed his undergraduate education, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by his alma mater, Randolph-Macon college a year before his death. Lacking extensive formal training, he overcame this deficit and became an able and serious researcher through assiduous home study, discussions with recognized experts, and daily hands-on work in the laboratory. William Barrow had thorough knowledge of both library and archival practices, a long record of published research, and a command of his technical specialty. Barrow's research facility continued his work and remained open ten years after his death.

Background

Barrow was a native of Brunswick County, Virginia. He graduated from Randolph-Macon Academy and later attended Randolph-Macon College. Barrow became interested in the problems of paper deterioration while investigating the history of his family[1]. Even though Barrow did not have a formal education in the field of Chemistry, the mystery of paper deterioration became his passion. This passion became his life's work, to determine what the causes were and to slow the deterioration process down or eliminate it altogether.

Critical Reputation

Barrows' innovations did not move forward in history without some controversy or challenges. Some doubts arose in the mid 1970's concerning document conservation practices. These criticisms were being directed at the Barrow process of lamination and deacidification. The doubts appeared in a summary in the American Archivist, April, 1976 . The criticisms were stating that the Barrow lamination process had some harmful effects caused by heat. Frazer G. Poole, the assistant Director for Preservation for the Library of Congress authored the article. Upon further investigation by The Preservation for the Library of Congress into the allegations, they found Poole's report to be lacking in hard scientific data because the report consisted of broad observations, undocumented generalizations, and inferential statements.

Authorship

William J. Barrow wrote several articles and publications documenting his work and findings. One of those articles was the 500 Book Paper, written in 1957 Barrow documented the findings of some physical tests performed in the Rare Book Room of the Virginia State Library[5]. In 1959 he wrote the Deterioration of Book Stock Causes and Remedies. This book was written documenting two studies he had performed. The first, to determine the physical strength of non-fiction book papers from 1900-1949, and the 2nd, to determine the stabiliazation of modern book papers In 1960, William Barrow wrote The Manufacture and Testing of Durable Book Papers which he takes his findings from his 1959 publication and demonstrate that it was possible to treat newly manufactured papers with solutions of magnesium and calcium bicarbonates, thus neutralizing acidity and prolonging the life of such papers materially.

References

Category:1904 births Category:1967 deaths Category:Papermakers