Deep in the heart of AUC’s Rare Books and Special Collections Library, Creswell’s timeless photo collection is once again coming to life.

 

Work on the restoration of the Creswell collection, which consists of more than 10,000 photos, began a year and a half ago and is now close to being entirely completed. Sir Keppel Archibald Cameron Creswell, renowned historian of Islamic art and architecture, donated his photography collection to the university upon his death in 1974. He had taught at AUC since 1956.

 

Mohamed Abu Bakr, conservation coordinator at the library, is currently working on the project, which he estimates is about 75 percent complete. “We are working with a collection of photos taken between 1910 and 1970. At the time these photos were taken, they were stored on backing paper that was high in acidity. This has caused considerable deterioration and a yellowing of the photos,” he explained.

 

In addition to the Creswell collection, the library is engaged in other conservation projects. “We work on books, maps, architectural plans and photos: those items mainly concerned with paper conservation,” said Abu Bakr, adding that there are special temperature and humidity conditions required to preserve the library’s existing collections.

 

Beyond Creswell’s photos, Abu Bakr can recall fondly every book he has restored. “I have been doing this for 10 years, and as I walk through the library I see the different books I’ve worked on and feel attached to them,” he said. “It’s complicated, patient work, but you receive tangible results.”