U-of-I helps preserve important American documents

A special facility at the University of Iowa is helping preserve three ofthe most important documents in U-S history. The University’s Center for the Book created 100 sheets of hand-made cottonpaper that will go into new display cases being built to preserve the U-SConstitution, Declaration of Independance and Bill of Rights.Center director Tim Barrett says the paper was made without the harshchemicals used in most modern paper production.The paper will fit behind the documents and won’t be visible. Barrett saysthe paper could last well into the next millennium.Barrett doesn’t know exactly how much each 36-inch sheet of paper will cost.He says though, the paper makes up just a small portion of the NationalArchives’ total four-point-eight million dollar project. Production shop manager Lynn Amlie (am-lee) says it’s nice to get someattention for what she calls an obscure art.The new viewing cases will be completed and open to the public in 2003.