The Harry Ransom Center

The structure of the Harry Ransom Center building is alluring. My camera came out of my bag and I began shooting. I wanted to take photos of the etched glass images of the first-floor plazas—trying to recognize the images became a game!

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, right plaza etched glass of the Harry Ransom Center, Gloria Swanson, Edward Steichen, 1924

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, left plaza etched glass of the Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Storyboard from Gone with the Wind, 1939

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, left plaza etched glass of the Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Storyboard from Gone with the Wind, 1939

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, right plaza etched glass of the Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Horse in Motion, Eadweard Muybridge, ca 1886

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, right plaza etched glass of the Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Horse in Motion, Eadweard Muybridge, ca 1886

Olivia Primanis invited me to a second French lunch. I enjoyed dialoguing thoughts and ideas in my native tongue. French conversations stimulate a different rapport. This get-together gave me the chance to visit the Conservation Departments of the Harry Ransom Center.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, we started with the Book Conservation Lab where we met the week before for my presentation of my artists’ books

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, we started with the Book Conservation Lab where we met the week before for my presentation of my artists’ books

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Olivia Primanis working at her station in the Book Conservation Lab

Then we stepped into the Paper Conservation Lab where this year’s intern Kimberly Kwan was working. I met Ken Grant, Head of Paper Lab, Preservation and Conservation and Jane Boyd, Conservator of the Paper Lab.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Kimberly Kwan and Jane Boyd in the Paper Conservation Lab

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Ken Grant and Kimberly Kwan in the Paper Conservation Lab

The third lab was the Photograph Conservation, I found it interesting to see the equipment used by the staff to accomplish assignments.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Photograph Conservation Lab

Last, but not least, I visited the Preservation Lab, where I was introduced to the different collections that are maintained and kept. Genevieve Pierce, Preservation Technician, was informative and knowledgeable.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Genevieve Pierce in the Preservation Lab working on boxes for a specific collection

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Genevieve Pierce in the Preservation Lab working on boxes for a specific collection

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, the other side of the Preservation Lab

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, the other side of the Preservation Lab

This was a great exploration, I’m looking forward to perusing the Books Arts Collection in depth next year.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, my last gaze at the Harry Ransom Center before leaving Austin