Paper Finds Many New Uses in the Home

Paper Finds Many New Uses in the Home
by Irene Gibson Barnes
Adopted for Conservation by
Francine Carol Berkowitz
on June 25, 2019
Paper finds many new uses in the home

Paper finds many new uses in the home

By Irene Gibson Barnes. Kalamazoo, Mich. : Kalamazoo Colortype, 1931.

“Paper – a new servant for the American home!” This cheery booklet was published by the Kalamazoo Vegetable Paper Company (KVP) in 1931 to promote their products. Aimed at the budget-conscious housewife, KVP provides tips and tricks to show how paper can help them improve their homemaking skills. Charmingly illustrated with green and orange line drawings, this slim volume is an excellent example of the importance of collecting ephemera. Paper provides insight to the growing popularity of home economics and the subsequent shift to marketing specifically to women.

Condition and Treatment: 

This piece features early 20th century staple binding with a decorative paper binding. The staples have oxidized, causing damage to the paper. The textblock is separating from the spine. There is also an area of loss at the head of the spine. Conservators will remove the staples and sew the textblock onto an acid free hinge that will be re-attached to the case. The case will be repaired to address the area of loss on the spine.

Discover more about this book in our Catalog.

Adoption Type: Preserve for the Future