Helen Burgess (scientist)
| Helen Diana Burgess | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 28, 1951 Lethbridge, Alberta |
| Died |
August 24, 1999 (aged 48) Ottawa, Ontario |
| Citizenship | Canada |
| Fields | Organic chemistry, conservation-restoration |
| Institutions | Canadian Conservation Institute |
| Alma mater |
University of Lethbridge University of British Columbia Queen's University |
| Known for | artifact conservation |
Helen Diana Burgess (28 July 1951 – 24 August 1999), was a Canadian conservation scientist. Burgess spent her career at the Canadian Conservation Institute ("CCI"), where she was a Senior Conservation Scientist. She was an eminent researcher in paper and textiles conservation processes and a leading expert in the areas of cellulose degradation analysis, conservation bleaching, washing, enzyme applications on paper, as well as aqueous and mass deacidification of paper.[1][2]
Career
Helen Burgess obtained her Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) (Honours) from the University of Lethbridge in 1973. Burgess subsequently went to the University of British Columbia, where she graduated with a Masters of Science in bio-organic chemistry. She then went on to obtain a Masters of Conservation from Queen's University, specializing in conservation science. At Queen’s, her Masters thesis dealt with the degradation of cellulose during conservation bleaching treatments.[2]
In 1978, Burgess joined CCI in its Conservation Processes Research department. Burgess ultimately became its Senior Conservation Scientist, a position she held until her retirement in 1998. Her primary focus was the conservation of paper artifacts,[2] but she also handled other materials, such as textiles. For several decades, the primary guidance for conservation bleaching practices was dominated by guidelines Burgess helped develop.[3][4] Burgess was the first conservation-restoration scientist to classify the chemical analysis of treated specimens, and to find an application for bleaching agents in paper conservation.[3][5] Burgess published numerous articles in a variety of academic journals and industry publications.[6] Burgess was also a frequent presenter at conservation, restoration, and scientific conferences.
Burgess passed away a year after her retirement, in 1999.[1] At the annual conference of the Western Association for Art Conservation following her death, several of the presentations were dedicated to her memory.[7]
References
- 1 2 McCawley, Cliff; Tse, Season (March 1998). "Turning a page: Helen Burgess retires = Helen D. Burgess tournes la page". CCI Newsletter = Bulletin de l’ICC (21): 17–18.
- 1 2 3 Petherbridge, Guy (1987). Conservation of Library and Archive Materials and the Graphic Arts. London: Butterworths. p. 328. ISBN 0-408-01466-0.
- 1 2 Brückle, Irene (December 2009). "Bleaching Paper in Conservation: Decision-Making Parameters". Restaurator: International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material. 30 (4): 321–332.
- ↑ Burgess, Helen (1987). "Paper Conservation Catalogue" (PDF). Conservation Online. Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ↑ Burgess, Helen (1988). "Practical Considerations for Conservation Bleaching. Journal of the IIC-Canadian Group 13 (1988):11 – 26." (PDF). Journal of CAC - Archived Issues. The Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ↑ "Burgess, Helen Diana 1951-". WorldCat Identities. OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ↑ "Conference Review (WAAC Newsletter Jan 2000 Volume 22 Number 2)". Western Association for Art Conservation. Western Association for Art Conservation. January 2000. Retrieved 28 February 2017.