by Audrey Jawando, Assistant Book Conservator, August 2024
The personal Bible of Nat Turner (1800-1831) is held in the collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC). Turner, an enslaved Black American, led a rebellion against Virginia slaveholders in 1831. This Bible is thought to have been in Turner’s possession at the time of his capture following the uprising.
The NMAAHC had put the Bible on display at the time of the museum's opening in 2016. The Bible continued to be on view until the decision was made to stabilize the book in 2020 for its future exhibition in the Slavery & Freedom exhibit. The book’s stabilization enabled the curatorial team to rotate pages during its display period. Page rotations help with conservation and provide new opportunities for visitors to learn about the object’s historical significance.
Examining the Structure
The small Bible (12.5 x 8.9 x 3.8 cm) was published in 1782. The sections had been sewn over raised cords and the volume was bound as a tight back, a type of binding in which the covering material is adhered directly to the spine of the text block.
The front and back covers were missing and the text block was incomplete. Given its condition, turning the pages and continuing to display the Bible in an open position posed definite risks to the book. Since the covers were missing, the already torn and tattered pages at the front and back of the volume risked further damage. While the original leather spine piece had survived, it was in the process of detaching from the text block, which was severely distorted and set in a concave shape. The sewing had broken between two of the middle sections causing the text block to split; both halves remained connected only due to their attachment to the spine piece. Throughout the volume, there was evidence of previous conservation repairs. Two sections were loose, and entire sections at the beginning and end of the volume were missing. The pages that remained were dirty; most had edge tears; some had losses; and many were creased and stained.
Treatment Goals
As the value of this artifact lies overwhelmingly in its use by Nat Turner, maintaining its historic integrity was of prime importance to the NMAAHC. The goal of treatment was to make it structurally sound enough for exhibition and handling while altering its appearance as little as possible. Since much of the damage (and dirt) is considered artifactual, few treatments were carried out on the pages. Surface cleaning was done only in areas where it was needed to facilitate mending. The only previous mends that were removed were those that were unstable or visually distracting and could be improved with the use of materials more sympathetic in color. New mends were generally restricted to the seven leaves that were flagged for exhibition, although minimal mends were carried out on the first and last leaves to help prevent further damage. All the mending was done with light-weight Japanese kozo paper and wheat starch paste.
Treatment
Most of the treatment involved stabilizing the text block. The leather spine was easily detached (figure 1), and previous paper mends were removed from the backbone. Also removed were the repair threads that attached the first extant section and those that rejoined the text block at the center of the spine. A release layer of light-weight Japanese paper was then adhered to the spine on each half of the text block using wheat starch paste. Frayed lengths of new flax cord were pasted over the Japanese paper and old cords, and the sections on either side of the break were joined by sewing through the folds following the original sewing pattern. The loose section at the front was reattached with all-along sewing around the cords (figures 2 and 3). A release layer of toned Japanese paper was pasted over the spine to extend just over the gutter edge of the first and last page (figure 4). Finally, the leather spine was adhered to the release layer and brushed with a consolidant.
Although the volume after treatment does not look significantly different from its before-treatment condition (figures 5 and 6), it is now a coherent whole and more structurally sound. The curve of the spine is improved and the backbone has additional support, so less stress is being put on the original sewing and cords. Reattachment of the leather spine and previously loose sections means that they are less at risk for becoming detached. Now mended, edge tears are not as likely to snag during handling. The pages at the front and back are still vulnerable, however, as the volume remains without covers. In order to protect the book, storage enclosures were fabricated. A wrapper was constructed from Bristol and outfitted with Volara foam to provide cushioning for the most fragile areas of the text block. A custom-made, cloth-covered, drop-spine box will now house the Bible in its wrapper when the book is not on exhibit (figure 7).
Besides addressing storage concerns, NEDCC made recommendations for exhibition of the Bible. In order to display the pages more safely, supports made from clear Vivak were constructed. Using clear polyester tapes, they can be secured over a page, allowing the text to be viewed while providing an additional barrier to light and dust within a display case (figures 8 and 9).
Conclusion
Nat Turner’s Bible is an important artifact of American history. It is a visceral reminder of the violence and horrors of slavery, yet it inspires hope as a powerful symbol of resistance and courage. NEDCC’s conservation treatment met the needs of the client in keeping this history visible, while stabilizing it for future generations.
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Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
The NMAAHC is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by an Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 40,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution.
Northeast Document Conservation Center
Founded in 1973, the NEDCC is a non-profit specializing in the conservation of book and paper collections, digital imaging, audio reformatting, preservation training, assessments, and consultations.
For more information:
Bible belonging to Nat Turner | National Museum of African American History and Culture (si.edu)
Slavery and Freedom | National Museum of African American History and Culture (si.edu)
Nat Turner’s Rebellion | National Museum of African American History and Culture (si.edu)