Starting a career in Archive Conservation

What do conservators do?

Archive conservators are specialists responsible for the long-term preservation, treatment and care of archival materials.

The role combines scientific knowledge, practical skills, and ethical decision making to ensure archival collections remain accessible for future generations.

Preventative Conservation is an effective way to manage risk and prevent damage and deterioration before it can occur. The role of a Preventative Conservator is a job in its own right; some GLAM employers employ preventative conservators as well as conservators.

Key duties for a preventative conservator include:

• Monitoring and controlling environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity, light, VOC’s)
• Managing pest control programmes (Integrated Pest Management)
• Advising on storage systems and packaging solutions for archival materials
• Advising and supporting safe handling procedures for staff and users
• Preparing materials for exhibition and advising on exhibition install (e.g. making mounts, assessing and advising on light)
• Cleaning collection materials

Conservators additionally carry out hands on treatments to stabilise and repair damaged collections.

Typical duties include:

• Surface cleaning, the removal of lose dirt and debris
• Flattening rolled and creased documents
• Washing and deacidification where appropriate
• Consolidating weak material fibres and media such as inks and pigments
• Physical repair of damaged archives and their constituent parts
• Archive conservators are expected to have skills in the interventive repair of paper, parchment, seals, maps, plans and books

Other common duties include:

• Conducting condition surveys across collections
• Identifying risks and hazards
• Producing reports and recommendations, both internally and externally for loan materials and acquisitions
• Prioritising collections and items for treatment and/or rehousing

Conservators often work collaborativly with archivists, librarians, curators, digitisation teams and facilities staff.

There are a range of roles available, with titles that include:

• Preventative conservator
• Archive conservator
• Conservation Technician
• Collections Care officer/ manager

Where do conservators work?

Conservators can be employed in local authority archives as well as national archive services. Many academic institutions such as Universities and Colleges employ conservators, as well as some libraries, museums and other heritage organisations.

Some experienced conservators become consultants, offering freelance advice and interventive work.

What qualifications do you need to become an archive conservator?

Most archive conservators begin with a relevant bachelor’s degree such as:

• Conservation or heritage conservation
• Archaeology or history
• Fine art or history
• Chemistry or material science
• Library and archive studies

Conservators will likely then have a relevant master’s degree or equivalent, such as:

• MA/MSc in conservation of Cultural Heritage
• MA/MSc in Paper conservation
• MA/MSc in Book and Archive Conservation
• MA in Preventative Conservation
• ARA’s Archive Conservation Training Scheme Certificate

How and where can I get qualified:

The following Universities offer archive, paper and book conservation bachelor’s and master’s degrees:

• City & Guilds of London Art School
• Northumbria University
• The Courtauld Institute
• Glasgow University
• Cardiff University
• West Dean College of Arts and Conservation
• The University of Lincoln

Volunteering, Placements, Internships, Work experience

Volunteering, Placements, Internships, Work experience

Getting some real-life work experience is often the best way to understand what it is like to work in many professions. It will help you decide whether record-keeping is the career for you and provide valuable experience that employers and university courses look for. A good place to start is The UK National Archives’ online archive directory. Also have a look online for local heritage organisations, museums, records offices and private sector businesses. Send them an email with a CV to introduce yourself and find out what opportunities they have. Be sure to follow up with a phone call a few days later. It’s never too early to start making connections in the profession.

You can also find information about volunteering and placements on the Archives and Records Association website here: https://www.archives.org.uk/volunteering-in-the-sector

You can also join the Archives and Records Association and as a member become a member of the Preservation and Conservation Group – giving you access to training, information and a network of professionals working within the sector.

Case studies
Find out more about working in archives from reading these case studies of real people doing real jobs.