In an April post entitled Rescuing film classics, I wrote about director Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of cinema’s greatest treasures. This got me thinking about how we can preserve the treasures that we have in our own homes—things like photographs, books, old letters, and original artwork.
With help from the good folks at the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, I pulled together some conservation tips that might help.
Read the full story
This cross section diagram shows the various components that make up the new encasements. (Graphic by Ray Ruskin)
In the last week, I’ve received several emails from readers inquiring about the Charters of Freedom story running in the Tribune’s June issue. In 2003, the National Archives embarked on a massive restoration effort that included repairing minor signs of wear on the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution, then reencasing the documents in state-of-the-art containers.
Read the full story
Last week, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing a woman who I believe is a true marvel. At 95, Bea Toms is full of enough energy to rival those half her age. She’s beaten cancer, produced several books of poetry, and most notably, she is an absolutely amazing cook.
After years of preparing meals for farm hands and family members in her hometown of Frederick, Maryland, Bea decided to start doing it professionally, going into business as a caterer for weddings and other special occassions. The recipes that she had been making for decades–dishes like Chicken Beatrice, Orange Blossoms, and Spinach Superb–were now available to the local groups she served.
Read the full story
Ice cream is a product that has earned a permanent place in the American freezer. It’s a personal food that means different things to different people.
For some, it’s symbolic of times spent with grandchildren and grandparents, for others, a first date with the love of their life. For John Harrison, it means carrying on a tradition.
Read the full story
Fimmaker Martin Scorsese introducing the world restoration premiere of "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" at the 2008 New York Film Festival. (Photo courtesy of David Godlis)
D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation (1915), Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times (1936), and Gone with the Wind (1939), are classic films by almost anyone’s standards. But keeping these pictures alive after so many years is no easy task, and one of the organizations doing this is a non-profit group called The Film Foundation.
Started in 1993 by Martin Scorsese and fellow filmmakers that include Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Altman, The Film Foundation is the leading organization devoted to saving the 20th century’s cinematic gems from the damage wrought by time and neglect.
Read the full story
In an April post entitled Rescuing film classics, I wrote about director Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of cinema’s greatest treasures. This got me thinking about how we can preserve the treasures that we have in our own homes—things like photographs, books, old letters, and original artwork.
