Document & Paper Conservation
Conserve and restore historical documents and manuscripts
Overview
Document conservators charge $75-$200 per hour or $200-$5,000+ per item.
Completing 50-150 conservation projects annually generates $100,000-$500,000 annually with 60-75% margins.
In 2025, libraries, museums, archives, and collectors need professional conservation for valuable documents.
Services include document cleaning and stabilization, tear and damage repair, deacidification treatments, flattening and pressing, encapsulation and protective housing, mold and pest damage treatment, and historical document restoration.
Successful document conservators complete conservation training (graduate programs), understand paper chemistry and aging, work with archival materials and reversible treatments, document all conservation work, follow professional ethics (minimal intervention), and handle valuable irreplaceable items.
Can serve libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, universities, and private collectors.
Many conservators specialize (manuscripts, maps, prints, photographs).
Marketing through archives, museum conferences, preservation organizations, and rare book dealers.
Required Skills
- Conservation Training
- Paper Chemistry
- Restoration Techniques
- Archival Standards
- Documentation
- Historical Knowledge
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Highly specialized professional field
- Work with important historical materials
- Museums and archives steady clients
- High hourly rates ($75-$200)
- Intellectually engaging work
Cons
- Requires graduate degree in conservation
- Long training and apprenticeship
- Expensive specialized materials and equipment
- High responsibility for irreplaceable items
- Small market requiring geographic flexibility
How to Get Started
- Complete conservation training program
- Apprentice with established conservator
- Set up conservation studio with equipment
- Join professional conservation associations
- Target libraries, museums, archives
- Build portfolio of conservation projects
- Network through preservation community
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