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>Date:Tue, 2 Dec 1997 15:39:32 -0500
>From: "Thomas, Sue" <<a href="/scripts/wa.exe?LOGON=A3%3Dind9712%26L%3DARLIS-L%26E%3D7BIT%26P%3D46246%26B%3D--%26T%3Dtext%252FplainTEXT%252FPLAIN%3B%2520charset%3DUS-ASCII%26pending%3D" target="_parent" >[log in to unmask]</a>>
>Subject: BC Archives Recovers Priceless Maps
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>
>For Immediate Release
>Information, Science and Technology Agency
>97:60
>December 2, 1997
>
>B.C. ARCHIVES RECOVERS PRICELESS MAPS
>
>VICTORIA-Seventeen of 20 historical maps that were stolen in December
>1995, including a map of the Pacific Ocean from a 396-year-old Ortelius
>atlas, have been recovered and will be restored to their original
>volumes at the B.C. Archives, Dan Miller, minister responsible for the
>Information, Science and Technology Agency, said today.
>
>"The recovery of these maps is a big relief," said Miller.  "Preserving
>these types of documents while maintaining public accessibility is a
>real challenge faced every day by archivists and librarians."
>
>All but three of the 20 stolen maps were recovered.  This was done by
>taking the nine vandalized books to Charlottesville, Virginia, to
>determine if any of the many items recovered and stored by the FBI were
>a match.  Experts had to compare each map to a potential matching book.
>By comparing the size and color of the edges of the page and using
>ultraviolet light to bring out blemishes in the paper, matches could be
>confirmed.  Unlike modern printing processes, historical volumes were
>cut by hand after they are bound so no two of an edition are exactly the
>same, thus improving the chances of confirming a match.
>
>"Processes at B.C. Archives were immediately modified to reduce the risk
>of this type of vandalism occurring again," added Miller.  "I am
>confident that every measure was taken to secure the collections while
>still maintaining accessibility."
>
>The B.C. Archives is currently looking at options for restoring the maps
>to their original volumes.  Each volume may need to be taken apart and
>then reconstructed by a conservator, a process that could take up to a
>year.  Complete restoration could cost up to $8,000.
>
>Theft of the priceless maps was discovered earlier this year.  On Jan.
>13, a letter was received from the John Carter Brown Library in
>Providence, Rhode Island, notifying archive libraries in Canada and the
>U.S.A. of damage to several of their historical volumes by an individual
>who had been convicted in Virginia and Florida on related charges.  A
>check of records revealed that a person using the same name had visited
>the B.C. Archives in October 1995.  A review of all the volumes
>retrieved for the visitor revealed the damaged volumes.
>
>At least 18 institutions across North America suffered losses from the
>same thief, including libraries at the University of British Columbia,
>University of Virginia, Duke University, University of North Carolina,
>University of Chicago, Chicago Public Library, Northwestern University,
>University of Delaware and Washington University.  Approximately 95 maps
>remain unclaimed.
>
>B.C. Archives is the central archives service for the provincial
>government and provides research access to records of enduring value to
>the province for both government and public clientele.  Its archival
>holdings include:  government documents and records, private historical
>manuscripts and papers, maps, charts and architectural plans,
>photographs, paintings, drawings and prints, audio and video tapes,
>film, newspapers and an extensive library of publications with a strong
>emphasis on the social and political history of British Columbia and the
>Pacific Northwest.
>
>Contact:
>Sue Thomas
>Communications Manager
>(250) 387-4470
>

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
   Karen McKenzie                     Phone: (416) 979-6660 Ext. 389
Chief Librarian                    Fax:   (416) 979-6602
   E.P. Taylor Research Library & Archives
   Art Gallery of Ontario
   317 Dundas Street West
   Toronto, ON    M5T 1G4
   CANADA