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Preserving
Ancestral Records
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Letters
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Family Trees
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Restoration of Genealogical Documents
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Military Discharge Certificates
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Baptismal Certificates
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Genealogy & Ancestry Recovery

The Kelsey Conservation studio offers top notch preservation services to repair & restore genealogical & ancestral document collections.

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Genealogy & Ancestry Recovery Services:

We offer a full range of services to help you preserve your family’s genealogical documents and historical artifacts.

Whether it is a family tree, a collection of letters, or another irreplaceable family document, our expert conservators will repair and restore your treasured artifact to give it a new life for many more generations to enjoy.

Services include:  cleaning, washing, stain reduction, tape removal, repairing paper tears, mold remediation, reducing acidity of the paper, mending and infilling losses, and flattening folds and creases, rehousing documents for archival storage.

For more information and to discuss your repair or conservation project,
please call (336) 509-0536 or email info@kelseyconservation.com

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We Specialize In Genealogy & Ancestry Materials Restoration

At our studio, we specialize in repairing historical papers of all varieties.  Our expert conservators will restore your heritage documents to their previous glory.  Yellowing and acidic paper can be washed to reduce staining and acids, damaging tapes removed and tears or losses to the paper infilled and mended.  We can assist you to restore your cherished documents so they can be read and enjoyed for many more years to come.

Call us today and we will help you get started!

Our paper repair and restoration services include:

Call (336) 509-0536

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Have a damaged baptismal certificate?

At our studio, we specialize in repairing certificates of all varieties and eras.  Our expert conservators will restore your family certificate to its previous glory.  Yellowing and acidic paper can be washed to reduce staining and acids, damaging tapes removed and tears or losses to the paper infilled and mended.  We can assist you to restore your cherished baptismal certificate so it can be viewed and enjoyed for many more years to come.

Call us today and we will help you get started!

Our paper repair and restoration services include:

Call (336) 509-0536

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Contact us to get a complimentary estimate today!

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What to expect when you work with us

1. What to expect at the start of your project

We will make arrangements for a consultation.  We offer complimentary estimates via phone and email.  Clients are welcome to arrange to meet with us at our Greensboro studio or mail artifacts for evaluation and a formal quote. 

Once you have deposited your artifact at our studio, a complete and in-depth analysis will be performed, and a formal evaluation, treatment plan, and quote will be drawn up for your project. The Conservator can often provide a firm estimate at your in-person consultation.  In some instances, an additional evaluation will be required to determine the exact treatment required.

3. Project completion with full report

A full Conservation Treatment Report will be provided upon completion of your project.  We reserve the right to stop treatment or refuse a treatment that we deem inappropriate and that may damage the object. 

We take great care to improve the condition and appearance of your works on paper to the full extent possible without risking structural or historical integrity.  We are passionate about the services we provide and the artifacts we preserve.

 

2. The engagement process

Your object(s) will remain at our studio so that we can perform a complete examination and formulate the appropriate treatment. At this stage we will provide you with your treatment proposal.  After reading it, you can let our staff know if you have any questions or concerns.  Once you have reviewed and signed the necessary paperwork, and made a 50% deposit, your artifact is placed in our work queue.

Average turn times vary depending upon backlog and the nature & scope of your project.

Kelsey National Book & Paper Conservation Studios

Kelsey Conservation studio's new oversize sink for washing maps, posters and large artwork.

We care about our customers

Google-reviews-5.0

Based on 52 Reviews

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Marianne was clear and consistent in her guidance of how to restore my artifact. She was not the cheapest quote, but her expertise and professionalism ultimately gave me confidence that she was the best...
Marianne was clear and consistent in her guidance of how to restore my artifact. She was not the cheapest quote, but her expertise and professionalism ultimately gave me confidence that she was the best person to do the project. The end product is excellent and I’m very pleased with her work!
 
 

Jessica Murphy

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We took my wife's family Bible that was created in the 1880's to Marianne to be restored. The size of the Bible is 12"x11"x5". Our fear prior to meeting with Mariann was that it...
We took my wife's family Bible that was created in the 1880's to Marianne to be restored. The size of the Bible is 12"x11"x5". Our fear prior to meeting with Mariann was that it might be beyond repair due to both covers detached and pages starting to come loose. We were relived to hear that she was confident in her ability to restore using the original pieces. We picked up the Bible yesterday and we completely awestruck by what Marianne had accomplished. We now have a beautiful Bible that is a family heirloom that can be passed down to future generations. Our statement to Marianne was that she is a magician as well as a conservator. The finished product is absolutely perfect. We highly recommend Marianne and her abilities.
 
 

Robert Paschka

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I found Marianne Kelsey through an internet search looking for a paper conservation specialist. My piece was a painting from East Germany executed on paper in 1968. While the piece had been stored flat...

I found Marianne Kelsey through an internet search looking for a paper conservation specialist. My piece was a painting from East Germany executed on paper in 1968. While the piece had been stored flat for many years, it has signs of acid ageing and small tears along the edges. Transport from Germany required I roll it into a drawing tube which induced a curl in the work. The painting itself gathered a bit of dirt through the years and also required cleaning.

I am happy to report that the painting is in great shape - now clean and expertly repaired and the paper acid neutralized in a process lasting over 10 months. Marianne Kelsey did a wonderful job preserving my painting! She also connected me with an experienced archival framing company that finished the project. I couldn't be happier!

Wiley Harris

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We searched carefully to find someone highly qualified to do the work we needed. We had two lithographs, one Picasso and one Chagall, that we entrusted to Marianne Kelsey to restore. The former had...

We searched carefully to find someone highly qualified to do the work we needed. We had two lithographs, one Picasso and one Chagall, that we entrusted to Marianne Kelsey to restore. The former had two tears, going into the color, and was rolled. The latter, on rice paper, had been folded and stored in abysmal conditions. She repaired the tears on the Picasso such that we have to really search to find where we think they were. It now looks gorgeous framed. The Chagall was flattened and smoothed, with most of the staining removed. We just picked it up and are thrilled with the transformation (it’s waiting to be framed). Feel safe knowing that your most prized pieces will be carefully attended by Marianne.

Kim Davis

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Marianne works with meticulous craftsmanship. She has a broad swath of experience as a book conservator both within the industry and as a personal practitioner. She is scrupulous, honest, and careful in her business...

Marianne works with meticulous craftsmanship. She has a broad swath of experience as a book conservator both within the industry and as a personal practitioner. She is scrupulous, honest, and careful in her business dealings, and her follow-through is excellent. In addition to being a skilled book conservator, she is a paper and book maker of the finest quality. I am including a photo of a book she made for me,

Linda Troop

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Marianne recently repaired and restored an important family heirloom - my Grandmother’s Beauty School Diploma from 1936. The damage it had sustained broke my heart. Marianne was professional and empathetic. She totally got how...

Marianne recently repaired and restored an important family heirloom - my Grandmother’s Beauty School Diploma from 1936. The damage it had sustained broke my heart. Marianne was professional and empathetic. She totally got how important it was to me. The final product came out better than I had hoped! She also gave me a great recommendation for framing to further preserve this important piece of my family’s history. I would recommend her without hesitation.

Desi Smith

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I used to contract Marianne when I worked at an art museum. She would do a series of book binding classes. People would come in with no experience and leave with a beautiful book...

I used to contract Marianne when I worked at an art museum. She would do a series of book binding classes. People would come in with no experience and leave with a beautiful book they were proud of! Because of her thorough and patient style people would be so thrilled with their books they would sign up for the whole series. She was great to work with and great with the patrons. She gained a loyal following! I would recommend her for any class she offers and the quality of her work is superb! She is also very kind and easy to work with.

Anne Hall

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Marianne is an accomplished conservator. When asked locally here in Richmond where I could get a heirloom vellum (parchment) indenture contract preserved and restored, she was highly recommended by staff at the Virginia (Historical)...

Marianne is an accomplished conservator. When asked locally here in Richmond where I could get a heirloom vellum (parchment) indenture contract preserved and restored, she was highly recommended by staff at the Virginia (Historical) Library.
Worth the trip to Greensboro!
Marianne kept her promises of estimate, duration and finish date. She is so meticulous and knowledgeable of different inks, fabrics and mediums.
You can tell she takes great pride in (as well she should!), and loves her work. A True Master!
★Thank you M.K.!

Don E. Moe

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Over the past few years Marianne Kelsey has helped me with two projects. She restored and preserved a nineteenth-century scrapbook, and just recently she preserved a watercolor that dates, probably, from about 1900. Both...

Over the past few years Marianne Kelsey has helped me with two projects. She restored and preserved a nineteenth-century scrapbook, and just recently she preserved a watercolor that dates, probably, from about 1900. Both items are valued highly by my family; I can’t imagine receiving better service. In Marianne we found supreme expertise as well as a level of personal care that larger shops are unable to provide.

Neil McIntyre

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Marianne is a highly skilled conservator. She's a patient listener with her clients, flexible, and passionate about her work. And her results speak for themselves. Her knowledge on paper and book making helps her...

Marianne is a highly skilled conservator. She's a patient listener with her clients, flexible, and passionate about her work. And her results speak for themselves. Her knowledge on paper and book making helps her ability to explain restoration to others unfamiliar with the anatomy of various documents. A wonderful restorer and teacher! Highly recommend.

Katherine Brelje

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In a move several years ago, my son discovered an old family Bible that was literally falling apart. It contains original family pages with hand written entries of births, marriages and deaths for several...

In a move several years ago, my son discovered an old family Bible that was literally falling apart. It contains original family pages with hand written entries of births, marriages and deaths for several generations in our family (beginning in 1823) that are in remarkable condition, but the front and back covers and parts of the spine were in really bad shape. Some parts of the covers were completely separated from the Bible, pieces of the leather on the spine had come off and some of the pages were falling out or were loose.
Marianne Kelsey did an amazing job in restoring the this family treasure! Using archival materials and her expertise as a conservator, she restored the covers and spine, mended torn pages, resewed loose pages and mounted the beautifully restored spine on the newly rebacked and restored volume. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the newly restored Bible! Now this priceless family Bible can be viewed and enjoyed by future generations in our family!
Thank you, Marianne!

Louann Clarke

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Marianne recently completed some work for us in restoring an antique lithograph. She exhibited exceptional professionalism and care in completing our project, and we were very pleased with the result. We would certainly recommend...
Marianne recently completed some work for us in restoring an antique lithograph. She exhibited exceptional professionalism and care in completing our project, and we were very pleased with the result. We would certainly recommend her for your restoration projects.
 
 

Michael Heny

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Marianne is a gifted conservator.  Her expertise in restoration is excellent.  Her willingness to listen and guide her clients in choosing the restoration best for their particular project is exceptional.  I highly recommendMarianne for your...
Marianne is a gifted conservator.  Her expertise in restoration is excellent.  Her willingness to listen and guide her clients in choosing the restoration best for their particular project is exceptional.  I highly recommend
Marianne for your project.

Barbara Lahman

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Marianne is an extremely thoughtful and talented conservator. The love and skill she has for her craft is clear in the quality of the work she does. Without hesitation, I would recommend her to...
Marianne is an extremely thoughtful and talented conservator. The love and skill she has for her craft is clear in the quality of the work she does. Without hesitation, I would recommend her to anyone.
 
 

Catherine Thomis

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I asked Maryanne to restore an 1878 volume that had deteriorated with time, both front and back covers detached along with several pages. There was damage to board edges and corners. The finished result...
I asked Maryanne to restore an 1878 volume that had deteriorated with time, both front and back covers detached along with several pages. There was damage to board edges and corners. The finished result is outstanding- the volume was rebacked and the spine remounted, pages reattached, damage to the covers were restored and the pages were treated to reduce acidity. Maryanne was very easy to deal with and very good at explaining the process and what to expect.

Glenn T

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Marianne Kelsey is a conservator. Her dedication to her work is bar none. She's attentive to details and treats each body of work is as it belongs to her own family. I have witnessed...
Marianne Kelsey is a conservator. Her dedication to her work is bar none. She's attentive to details and treats each body of work is as it belongs to her own family. I have witnessed her careful examination of documents, photos and heirlooms then restore them to natural likenesses. If you're looking for a professional conservator, I believe Marianne should be the person you call.

A. Nicole Gaines

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I have a print (43 years old) that has mildew on it from the basement. While it’s neither my favorite or of any value, it was one of the first things we bought when...
I have a print (43 years old) that has mildew on it from the basement. While it’s neither my favorite or of any value, it was one of the first things we bought when we were first married. So it definitely has sentimental value. I contacted Marianne and sent pictures. While she wasn’t able to help me, she did send me the name of someone who might can help. She was so nice and helpful. Thank you Marianne.

Lori Evans

Kelsey National Conservation Studios

New Beginnings

We will give your artwork new life so it can be viewed and enjoyed for many years to come.

Science & Design

Our conservators stay abreast of the latest developments in the Conservation Sciences.

Amazing Spaces

Fully equipped state-of-the-art conservation studio accommodates a broad range of treatments.

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