The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike,
302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Heller, Don B.
Title: Papers
Dates: 1918-1992; bulk dates: 1974-1992
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 04x19, 13x4, 2019x66
Quantity: 5 cu. ft.
Location: 502 G 2-4; Map case B,
drawer 5
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
In 1974, Don Boswell Heller
joined the staff of
In addition to being a staff
conservator, Heller taught metals conservation in the Winterthur/University of
Don Heller was a member of
the International Institute for Conservation and a fellow of the American
Institute for Conservation. He lectured and had several papers published.
He was born on June 23, 1926, and died on November 26, 1999. He
married twice and had three sons.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
Collection is composed of
general office records and files relating to the Winterthur/University of
The general office files
relate mostly to metals and metal conservation. Also found are formulas
for degreasing and cleaning metals, information on coating metals for
preservation purposes, directions for making artificial food used at Winterthur
for Yuletide exhibits, writings about conservation work done on the Statue of
Liberty, and information about cleaning outdoor sculptures. Also found are treatment reports and
photographs, primarily for a few objects belonging to others, but also some for
Winterthur Museum objects.
Heller used some of the
slides in the collection to illustrate his lectures; others show conservators
at work and objects before and after conservation treatment. There are
also some photos of the Heller & Co. in Washington, photos of Herman Heller
from his army days during World War I, and slides documenting the move of
Rieman William Michel’s silversmithing tools from his home in Maryland.
Audio cassette tapes contain talks about conservation issues.
ORGANIZATION
Collection is divided into
three series: I. Conservation department files; II. WUDPAC files; and III.
Slides, photos, audio tapes, and publications.
Series I, Conservation
department files, is divided into 2 subseries: A. general files, and B.
treatment reports and photographs.
The WUDPAC files are further
divided into 4 sub-series: A. general files; B. student internship reports; C.
student reports and condition reports; and D. exams.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
All accessions: Gift of Linda Heller (Mrs. Don
Heller).
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Michel, Rieman William.
Topics:
Handy & Harman (
Metals – Conservation.
Conservation – Study and teaching.
Soldiers –
Examinations.
Slides.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 502 G 2-4; and map case B, drawer 5
Series I: Conservation
Department files
Subseries A:
general files
Box 1
Folder 1: Armor
Folder 2: Casting
equipment
Folder 3: Ceramics
and glass consolidation
Folder 4: Ceramics,
clay tablets, glass
Folder 5: Chandelier
assembly (acc. 13x4)
Folder 6: Clocks
Folder 7: Coatings,
by John Poist
Folder 8: Coatings
program grant: original material, supplies, equipment
Folder 9: Coins
Folder 10: Collections
care training program
Folder 11: Conservation
and preservation: miscellaneous materials
Folder 12: Conservators,
conservation labs, conservation training programs
Folder 13: Consultants,
technical services, plating, etc.
Folder 14: Copper
alloys
Folder 15: Copper
– green patination
Folder 16: Correspondence,
1958-1983 and no date
Folder 17: Correspondence,
1974-1985 (acc. 13x4)
Folder 1: Corrosion
and tarnish inhibitors and stabilizers
Folder 2: “Corrosion
in Action” [note: see also audio cassette tape of same title]
Folder 3: Corrosion
seminar, Boston
Folder 4: Cosmetic
treatment
Folder 5: Cyanide
free solutions
Folder 6: “Effect
of Tarnish Inhibitors on Silver,” by Lins, McMahon, Angiollilo
Folder 7: Electrotyping,
electroplating, electrolytic reduction, etc.
Folder 8: Epoxy
and adhesive data
Folder 9: Ethics
Folder 10: Exhibit
cases
Folder 11: Exhibit
design firms
Folder 12: Expenses,
1984
Folder 13:
Folder 14: Formulae
for cleaning and degreasing
Folder 15: Foundry
Folder 16: Furniture
Folder 17: Glass
restoration and Corning seminar
Box 3-A:
Folder 1: Gold
Folder 2: Grant
for metal conservation at Winterthur Museum (acc. 13x4)
Folder 3: Guns
and rifles
Folder 4: Heller,
Don – A.I.C. membership application
Folder 5: Heller,
Don – articles by
Folder 6: Heller,
Don – hiring by Winterthur; retirement from Winterthur
Folder 7: Heller,
Don – letters of recommendation
Folder 8: Heller, Don: “Memories of Don Boswell
Heller from colleagues, friends & students”
Folder 9: Heller,
Don – personal objects
Folder 10: Heller,
Don – photographs (acc. 04x19 and 13x4)
Folder 11: Heller,
Don – private conservation work
Folder 12: Heller,
Don – resumes (acc. 13x4)
Folders 13-15: Heller,
Don – talks: Friends of Winterthur, 1975-1977 (acc. 2019x66)
[two
of these are titled “Scare Sessions”]
Folder 16: Heller,
Don – talk: Pennsbury Manor, 1976 (acc. 2019x66)
Folder 17: Heller, Don – talk: Washington
Conservation Guild, 1979: “Coating of Metal Objects at Winterhur” (acc.
2019x66)
Folder 13: Heller,
Don – workshops, talks, and symposia
Folder 14: Iron
Box 3-B:
Folder 1: Ivory
and bone – conservation, adhesives, etc.
Folder 2: Lacquer
Folder 3: Lead and zinc reduction and
conservation
Box 4:
Folder 1: Leather and wood
Folder 2: Long,
Deborah (acc. 13x4)
Folder 3: Metal
cleaning and stabilization
Folder 4: Metal
object repair
Folder 5: “Metallurgy
for Conservators of Metallic Art Objects,” by C.E. Birchenall
Folder 6: Metals
(general)
Folder 7: Metals:
ancient or archaeological: analysis, B.T.A. articles, etc.
Folder 8: Metals:
consolidation, solders, etc.
Folder 9: Metals
lab chemicals
Folder 10: Metals
study/storage collection proposal
Folder 11: Microscopy:
McCrone Research Institute course
Folder 12: Miscellaneous
Folder 13: Mold
making materials and information
Folder 14: “Museology”
course at George Washington University
Folder 1: NBS
dialogue: notes
Folder 2: Organic
and miscellaneous materials information
Folder 3: Outdoor
statuary treatments – walnut shells, etc.
Folder 4: Oxidizing
information
Folder 5: Packing:
materials and guidelines
Folder 6: Paintings
Folder 7: Paper
conservation: archives, documents, etc.
Folder 8: Paper
conservation: Corning seminar
Folder 9: Pests,
wood destroyers, rot, etc.
Folder 10: Pewter
reduction, with photos
Folder 11: Photographing
glass: Ray Errett suggestions
Folder 12: Photography
and Nikon camera information
Folder 13: Plastics
and saran wrap
Folder 14: Plating
solutions
Folder 15: Pottery
and AJK dough
Folder 16: Product
catalogs and information
Box 6:
Folder 1: Professional
organizations, meetings, etc.
Folder 2: Raphael,
Bettina Anne (acc. 13x4)
Folder 3: Restoration
tools order
Folder 4: Rustoleum
data
Folder 5: Self-contained
air-oxygen-propane system
Folder 6: Sheffield
plate: English contacts; silversmithing tool mfg., etc. (acc. 13x4)
Folder 7: Silver
Folder 8: Silver:
Russian/Latvian, Chinese export
Folder 9: silver
object contour experiment information (acc. 13x4)
Folder 10: Silver-plate:
polishes, technique
Folder 11: Solders,
etc.
Folder 12: Solution
formulas
Folder 13: “Statue
of
Folder 14: Stone
conservation
Folder 15: Supplies
Folder 16: surveys of metal objects at Winterthur
(includes garden decorations and clock project) (acc. 13x4)
Folder 17: Technical
information
Folder 18: Textiles:
conservation; metal threads
Folder 19: Torres
M., Luis A.
Folder 20: Vapor
phase inhibitors
Folder 21: Washington
Conservation Guild
Folder 22: Wax
removal
Folder 23: Winterthur
Conservation Lab
Folder 24: Winterthur
Museum: damaged objects: reports, correspondence (acc. 13x4)
Folder 25: Winterthur
Museum: marketing: mold making (acc. 13x4)
Folder 26: Winterthur:
memos and correspondence (acc. 13x4)
Box 7:
Folder 1: Winterthur: yearly reports: metals
conservation, 1981, 1985-1987, 1989; and goals, 1987-1990 (acc. 13x4)
Folder 2: Wire
and wire products – a chronology
Folder 3: X-ray
hazards
Series I: Conservation
Department files
Subseries B:
treatment files, reports, photos (acc. 13x4)
Box 7:
Folder 4: Treatments: Winterthur objects with no
numbers listed
Folder 5: Treatments: photographs from
Winterthur (some items marked with accession numbers, do not go with treatment
reports above)
Folder 6: Photographs: examples of treatments,
and Winterthur lab
Folder 7: Treatments: Dauphin County (Penn.)
Historical Society
Folder 8: Treatments: owner unknown (have
accession numbers, but are not Winterthur objects)
Folder 9: Treatments: privately owned objects
Folder 10: Treatments: photographs (not labeled)
Folder 11: Treatments: Sheffield tea urn:
restoration: photos
Folder 12: Treatments: Smithsonian Institution
Series II:
WUDPAC files
Subseries A:
general files
Box 1:
Folder 1: Admissions
committee
Folder 2: Bibliographies,
1976-1979
Folder 3: Block
preparation and set up, order from collection, etc.
Folder 4: Brochure
Folder 5: Class
photos and lists
Folder 6: Exams:
better student answers
Folder 7: Exams:
comprehensive and block exams
Folder 8: Exams:
correspondence
Folder 9: Exams:
Oral exam schedule
Folder 10: Exams:
qualifying examination for second year objects majors
Folder 11: Exams:
sample question and answer sheets
Folder 12: Expendable
collection objects
Folder 13: Field
trips
Folder 14: Guest
speakers
Folder 15: “Hold
harmless” form for loans
Folder 16: Internships
and summer work projects
Folder 17: Long
range plans
Box 2:
Folder 1: Metallurgy
and corrosion science: schedules, handouts, exams, etc.
Folder 2: Metals
block, 1974/75-1982/83
Folder 3: Metals
block, 1983/84-1991/92
Folder 4: Metals
block handouts, 1981
Folder 5: Metals
block handouts, 1991 (master copy)
Folder 6: Metals
block handouts, n.d.
Folder 7: Metals
block photos
Folder 8: Miscellaneous
Folder 9: Object
example analysis for block
Folder 10: Portfolio
evaluation
Folder 11: Program
closet and metals lab objects
Folder 12: Restrictions
on use of objects donated to WUDPAC
Folder 13: Sozzani,
Laurent
Folder 14: Speakers
and teachers evaluations
Series II:
WUDPAC files
Subseries B:
Student internship reports
Box 3:
Folder 1: Aitchison,
R. D.
Folder 2: Austin,
Michele
Folder 3: Booth,
Lisa
Folder 4: Bruno,
Lisa
Folder 5: Carpenter,
Jane
Folder 6: Chamberlin,
Robin
Folder 7: Christman,
Bruce
Folder 8: Cornman,
Maura
Folder 9: Craft,
Meg
Folder 10: Davis,
Nancy Jean
Folder 11: Dinsmore,
Jennifer
Folder 12: Fenn,
Mark
Folder 13: Heller,
Nancy
Folder 14: Kaminitz,
Marian
Folder 15: Lie,
Henry
Folder 16: McKee,
Jeanne
Folder 17: Mellor,
Stephen
Folder 18: Miksch,
Heidi
Folder 19: Nicholson,
Catherine
Folder 20: Nicholson,
K.
Folder 21: Norton,
Ruth E.
Folder 22: Schnepp,
Suzanne
Folder 23: Schulte,
Elizabeth K.
Folder 24: Sears,
Nicole
Folder 25: Shaftel,
Ann
Box 4:
Folder 1: Snow,
Carol
Folder 2: Strauss,
Linda
Folder 3: Stromberg,
Constance
Folder 4: Sturman,
Shelley
Folder 5: Tenentes,
Ellen
Folder 6: Welsh,
Elizabeth
Folder 7: West,
Susan
Folder 8: White,
Susan
Series II:
WUDPAC files
Subseries C:
Student reports and student condition reports
Box 5:
Folder 1: Abreu-Utermohlen,
Hilda
Folder 2: Albertson,
Rita
Folder 3: Anderson,
Catherine
Folder 4: Arnold, David
Folder 5: Baker,
Julie
Folder 6: Barach,
Ruth
Folder 7: Brown,
Barbara
Folder 8: Checkel,
Christy
Folder 9: Coddington,
Jim
Folder 10: Cornman,
Maura
Folder 11: Dennin,
Julie
Folder 12: Deschu,
Claudia
Folder 13: Duffy,
M.C.
Folder 14: Dyer,
Debora
Folder 15: Fisher,
Monique
Folder 16: Fiske,
Betty
Folder 17: Foster,
Christopher
Folder 18: Gardiner,
Joy
Folder 19: German,
Laurie
Folder 20: Goodberry,
Mayda
Folder 21: Gumprecht,
Hope
Folder 22: Heald,
Susan
Folder 23: Hee,
Linda
Folder 24: Heller,
Nancy
Folder 25: Hexter,
Madeleine
Folder 26: Holbrow,
Katherine
Folder 27:
Folder 28: Katz,
Melissa
Folder 29: Le
Mense,
Folder 30: Little,
Margaret
Folder 31: Lodge,
Robert
Folder 32: Long,
Deborah
Folder 33: Malenka,
Sally
Folder 34: Marshall,
Albert
Folder 35: Martin,
James
Folder 36: McGinn,
Mary
Box 6:
Folder 1: McRaney,
Nancy
Folder 2: Metzger,
Cathy
Folder 3: Pine,
Steven
Folder 4: Power,
Theresa
Folder 5: Quandt,
Abigail
Folder 6: Rasmussen,
Virginia
Folder 7: Reiter,
Sara
Folder 8: Sale,
Don
Folder 9: Santos,
Mariela
Folder 10: Sawchuck,
Rob
Folder 11: Schneck,
Kimberly
Folder 12: Schnepp,
Suzanne
Folder 13: Seidler,
Ruth
Folder 14: Smith,
Jeanne
Folder 15: Smith,
Rika
Folder 16: Stetina,
Helen
Folder 17: Stirton,
Laura
Folder 18: Stringari,
Carol
Folder 19: Strumfels,
Yoonjoo
Folder 20: Taggart,
Jonathan
Folder 21: Tidwell,
Karen
Folder 22: unknown
person
Folder 23: Van
Vooren, Camilla
Folder 24: Wachowiak,
Melvin
Folder 25: Wagner,
Sarah S.
Folder 26: Wardius,
Janine
Folder 27: Wollbrinck,
Thomas
Folder 28: Young,
Helen
Folder 29: Zieske,
Folder 30: Condition
reports: photos
Folder 31: Condition
reports: slides
Series II:
WUDPAC files
Subseries D:
student exams
Box 7:
Folder 1: Alberston,
Rita
Folder 2: Albright,
Folder 3: Baas,
Valerie
Folder 4: Carpenter,
Jane
Folder 5: Chamberlin,
Robin
Folder 6: Coddington,
Jim
Folder 7: Cornman,
Maura
Folder 8: Court,
Elizabeth
Folder 9: Davis,
Folder 10: Deschu,
Claudia
Folder 11: Duff,
Suzanne
Folder 12: Dyer,
Debora
Folder 13: Dwan,
Antoinette
Folder 14:
Folder 15: Fiske,
Betty
Folder 16: Goodberry,
Mayda
Folder 17: Grimm,
Carl
Folder 18: Hess-Norris,
Debbie
Folder 19: Kaminitz,
Marian
Folder 20: Kennedy,
Nora
Folder 21: King,
Chris
Folder 22: Lie,
Henry
Folder 23: Lodge,
Robert
Folder 24: Metzger,
Cathy
Folder 25: Norton,
Ruth
Folder 26: Ordonez,
Eugena
Folder 27: Price,
Lois
Folder 28: Quandt,
Abigail
Folder 29: Sawchuck,
Rob
Folder 30: Shaftel,
Ann
Folder 31: Smith,
Christine
Folder 32: Smith,
Jeanne
Folder 33: Sozzani,
Laurent
Folder 34: Tauber,
Gwen
Folder 35: Tenentes,
Ellen
Box 8:
Folder 1: Welsh,
Elizbeth
Folder 2: Wendelin,
Folder 3: West,
Susan
Folder 4: Williams,
Marc
Folder 5: Wolbers,
Richard
Folder 6: Wyatt,
Folder 7: Zieske,
Folder 8: photos: unidentified: one of a woman,
two of men filming a scene in which two women sit behind a table
[note:
these photos belong with series III, but don’t fit into those boxes]
Series III:
slides, photographs, audio tapes, publications
Box 8: (from
Series II.D.)
Folder 8: photos: unidentified: one of a woman,
two of men filming a scene in which two women sit behind a table
Box 1: audio
cassette tapes
A.I.C. annual meeting, May 1980: general session
tape E
A.I.C. annual meeting, May 1980: Elizabeth Packard, “FAIC History,” part II
A.I.C. annual meeting, May 1980, Dr, A.E.A. Werner,
“Thirty Years on in Conservation”
Chase, Tom, “Corroded Artifacts” (two tapes)
“Corrosion in Action” [see also the booklet of the
same title in
Gilbert, Edward R, “Curatorial Responsibilities”
(from AASLH)
Guldbeck, Per E.
“Conservation and Care of Collections” (from AASLH)
Kelly, George, “Deacidification Methods,” parts 1
and 2 (two tapes)
Mill, Hayle, “Handmade Paper”
Smithsonian Institute, “Cleaning of Prints”
Box 2:
Publications and slide scripts
Boy Scouts of
Boy Scouts of
Boy Scouts of
D. C. Mitchell Reproductions. “Authentic Reproductions of Period Hardware.”
[catalog
of reproduction hardware available from this company]
Handy &
Harman (New York, N.Y.), circular chart showing gauges of sterling silver
sheets and wire – IN FOLDER ON SHELF
Harrison, Raymond O., “The Technical Requirements of
Small Museums” (Canadian Museums Association, Technical paper no. 1)
Industrial
Finishing,
Sept. 1974 (vol. 50, no. 9)
“Lost Wax – The New Modern Craft,” 2d edition. Kerr Manufacturing Co., 1971 (printed 1974).
“Midas Plating Guide,” Rio Grande Albuquerque Inc.,
1988
“Periodic Chart of the Elements”
Plating and
Finishing Guidebook, edited by Walter R. Meyer. 11th
edition. New York: Metal Industry
Publishing Co., 1942.
“Showing How to Hold the Speedball Pen and the
Brush,” a lettering guide for those with Speedball pens, undated, but circa
1940.
Simple Methods
of Analyzing Plating Solutions. Matawan,
N.J.: Hanson-Van Winkle-Munning Co., 1930.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Museum Programs. “The Treatment of Corroded Metal Artifacts.”
“Student Papers Given at the Second Annual Art
Conservation Training Programs Conference,” April 1976,
T. B. Hagstoz & Son. “Metal Craft: The Creative Art.”
Slide script: Care in Handling [see slides in
Slide script: Presentation at
Slide script: Conservation number 3: Corrosion
Box 3: photos
of Herman Heller in the army during World War I
Company 12, sec. 2, 15th
Battalion, Camp Greenleaf, Ga., June 22, 1918, taken by Losey, Chattanooga,
Tenn., no. 594: soldiers (including 2 African Americans), civilians, three
cooks, in a field; background: long shed where more soldiers linger, and tent
platforms, with the tents furled
Replacement
Unit no. 72, Camp Greenleaf, Ga., Nov. 14, 1918, photo by M. C. Mayberry,
Chattanooga, Tenn.: soldiers in front of barracks and the YMCA building
these photos are in map case
B, drawer 5
Box 4: slides
packing up the Rieman
William Michel collection
Michel collection
teaching block (metals) and
others, students, labs as they were
coatings program
coatings – extras
care in handling –
duplicates
Box 5: slides
Syng inkstand
Small pewter picture frame
Fluorite column
Coin reduction
Tools and silver
Miscellaneous, assorted
slides
32 – syllabub fabrication –
extras
41 – block explanation to
faculty
42 – marketing mold making
(extras)
Marketing moldmaking
47 –
54 - miscellaneous
Box 6: slides
Prints
Glass
Textiles
Castings project
Corrosion grant and
corrosion
Sawed-in-half candlesticks
Pewter flagon (
Glass and ceramics care in
handling
Methods of decoration –
tools, etc.
Finger prints
Block lab – example objects
and tool set-up
Bellows series
Box 7: slides
Valerie brooch
Nadeau teaspoon
Cookie cutter
Llama
Henry Lie’s mouse casting
Bert’s pewter plate
Justine’s sconce
Ruth’s brass candlestick
restoration
Pewter reduction
Pearlware cup
Box 8: slides
Fabrication
Winetaster fabrication
Box 9: slides
Student projects – before and
after
Examples of objects in good
condition
Metallic elements and alloys
Box 10: slides
Presentation at
Conservation number 3:
Corrosion
Box 11: slides
Slide show: care in handling
[see script in
Flintlock rifle restoration
Box 12: slides
Coatings lectures
Fabrication
Tinned iron sheet
fabrication
Spoon repair series
Box 13: slides
Waxing
Culture fellows lecture
Biggs band – extras
Cleaning and reduction
19 – air-abraded tinned
chandelier
Box 14: slides
Forged fork series
Brass inkstand
Fraktur Room – Will pot
treatment, 58.656
William Will pot – PMA
Conservation lab scenes
Box 15: slides
Metal objects
ceramics
Box 16: slides
Miscellaneous objects
Matson candlestick
Dominy shops
Box 17: slides
Sofa bands reproduction
Baltimore Drawing Room
Wedgwood candlesticks
Heller & Co., ca.1956
Christmas (personal)
Box 18: slides
Assorted places, including
Independence Hall
Personal slides
Christmas at