As the summertime comes to a close and the school season approaches, we wanted to draw attention to the remarkable libraries we’ve conserved and restored, and shed light on these meaningful spaces where knowledge, history, and community intersect. Being more than repositories of books, libraries are living centers of culture and community identity that can preserve rare manuscripts, archives, and architectural craftsmanship that connects the present generation to their shared heritage.
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Beyond preservation, historical libraries provide inclusive gathering places for learning, creativity, and civic engagement, offering resources, programs, and events that enrich community life. Their beauty and historical significance inspire pride, while their accessibility fosters lifelong learning and collaboration. In preserving both knowledge and place, historical libraries strengthen the cultural fabric of the community and ensure it thrives for future generations.
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In order to highlight the significance of preserving historical libraries, we’ll be briefly touching on three projects we’ve done: Hale Library at Kansas State University, Yale University’s Sterling Memorial Library, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Barker Library. Each project is a testament to the enduring importance of preserving these cultural and educational spaces.
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After a devastating fire in May of 2018, Kansas State University suffered extensive damage, leading to a complete mural conservation of the Overmyer murals and the We Are the Dream mural in the Hale Library. Beginning with onsite investigations and review, Canning was brought in to assess the murals and preserve the beautiful legacy that Hale Library had lost.
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The Overmyer murals were done by David H. Overmyer and assisted by Byron B. Wolfe, circa 1934, in oil paints directly on the plaster substrate. After our initial assessments were completed and we provided proper conservation treatment recommendations, the brunt of the building was then repaired so we could return to reevaluate the Overmyer murals' conditions. This resulted in a full conservation treatment being performed on the murals. Due to the moisture trapped inside the painted masonry walls, and the ongoing degradation it caused both the masonry substrate and the artwork, immediate action needed to take place to salvage as much of the historic materials as possible. Each treatment was customized based on the condition of the four murals, which were located in the Great Hall on the South Wall.
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(Left) One of the Overmyer murals before conservation (Right) After conservation. Photo Credit © Randy Braley Photography. |
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The We Are the Dream mural was executed in commercial latex paints on burlap and located in the Mural Room of the Hale Library. It was completed by Travis Mosley, Willie McDonald, Harold Carter, and other contributors circa 1980. Due to the fire, the wood paneling and masonry wall received direct and indirect moisture damage. The moisture that remained in the walls caused erosion, paint cracking, delamination, biological growth, and the burlap to degrade. The mural also had surface grime due to the smoke damage. With immediate intervention needed for its longevity, the mural was removed from its location and later reinstalled with a newly designed plaster substrate. Restoration involved removing surface grime from the face of the mural, stabilizing the cracking, treating the biological growth on the backside of the mural, and stabilizing and consolidating the burlap fabric. Today, Hale Library stands not only as a modern academic resource but as a resilient symbol of heritage preserved through craftsmanship.
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(Left) We Are the Dream mural before conservation (Right) Mural after conservation. Photo Credit © Randy Braley Photography. |
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Sterling Memorial Library |
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We’ve had the privilege of working on different projects at Yale University, including the Sterling Memorial Library, the largest library on campus, and a visual masterpiece of Collegiate Gothic architecture. Along with doing many projects at Yale, we also completed many within the Sterling Memorial Library, like the Manuscripts and Archives and the L & B Reading Room projects, and have worked on the Yale Law Library as well. Sterling Memorial Library was built in 1930 and stands at the heart of the University, designed by James Gamble Rogers as a “cathedral of learning.” Fostering a space for communal academic learning and the University's expansion, it was important for Sterling Memorial Library to continue its legacy. We were entrusted to develop conservation cleaning methods on decoratively painted plaster and historic woodwork, removing decades of dirt and grime while preserving Rogers’ intended finish.
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The historic woodwork was modified, and new pieces were incorporated for upgrades. Areas of new woodwork were finished to blend seamlessly with the original. Rogers specified a process for aging wood throughout his buildings with the end goal of “When finished to look very old.” As originally specified by Rogers, we applied rottenstone to the new ornamental features, unifying the new and old woodwork pieces. Conservation cleaning was also performed on the coffered ceiling woodwork, which required a rottenstone treatment to achieve the same effect.
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Part of the decoratively painted plaster in the Narthex: the top section shows accumulated dirt from 1932, the middle section reflects an unsuccessful conservation cleaning attempt using a specified method, and the bottom displays Canning's mockup of our developed aqueous solution, which successfully unlocks and solubilizes the dirt on the painted textured surface |
Another centerpiece we conserved in the Sterling Memorial Library was the Alma Mater mural by Eugene Savage, surrounded by allegorical figures and symbols to represent the academic schools. The delaminating composite relief was stabilized, and the gilding was restored using archival research and historic photographs. For the Alma Mater, we brought in our colleague, Gianfranco Pocobene, an Art Conservator, for the conservation effort. After conservation cleaning on almost all of the finishes, inpainting areas of loss, reinstating missing relief ornamentation, adding new woodwork throughout the nave to blend in with the original, and conserving and restoring the Alma Mater mural, the library was revived for the community to admire and use once again.
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(Left) Painted decorative plaster in the Sterling Memorial Library before conservation cleaning. (Right) After conservation cleaning using the aqueous solution we developed. Photo Credits © Brian Rose |
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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Barker Library was originally built by architect William Welles Bosworth in 1916, and is home to one of the campus's signature spaces. The main reading room of the library holds the Great Dome, which we restored along with the Grand Lobby and Loggias. The scope of the restoration work included metal refinishing, historic decorative painting, stone & marble conservation cleaning, and incised-letter gilding. We also served as a consultant for the historic finish exposures and paint analysis for the library.
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The historic decorative paint investigation included extracting paint samples for microscopic analysis and paint exposures to reveal the historic paint scheme. The color scheme and placement were finalized after the completion of our paint study and analysis. For a full historic decorative paint restoration, we repainted all existing painted plaster and wood surfaces from the floor to the wood framework of the lay-light. |
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(Left) MIT Barker Library Dome before restoration (Right) After restoration. Photo Credits © Shawmut Design and Construction. |
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At John Canning & Co., our commitment to library preservation is rooted in the understanding that these institutions serve as both keepers of knowledge and as works of art. From emergency relief and disaster assessments to decorative conservation, each of these projects reflects a broader mission: to protect the intellectual and aesthetic foundations of our society. As technology continues to redefine how we access information, the buildings that house our collective wisdom deserve to be just as thoughtfully protected and maintained.
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Whether supporting students, researchers, or lifelong learners, libraries must remain safe, beautiful, and historically intact. The Sterling Memorial Library, Barker Library, and Hale Library are only a few out of the many historic libraries we've restored, others include the Harvard Library, Brown Library, Boston Public Library, and many more. Canning is proud to support the continued use and preservation of America’s great libraries because safeguarding our past is how we inspire the future.
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Latest Articles & Announcements |
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| The Collegiate and Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ralph Adams Cram |
Ralph Adams Cram began his architectural career at the end of the 1800s and grew in popular demand for his gothic designs in both the collegiate and ecclesiastical realms. After studying architecture with Boston firm, Rotch & Tilden, and trips to Europe, he began a partnership with fellow architect, Charles Wentworth, soon after joined by Bertram Goodhue to form the firm Cram, Wentworth & Goodhue. Cram’s views on architecture were widely respected throughout the academic community and appreciated by the rise of collegiate gothic architecture in the United States. In this blog, discover the visionary work of Ralph Adams Cram.
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| Lasting Perfection: How Long Does Gold Leaf Really Last? |
Wondering how long gold leaf is going to last in an interior or applied to an exterior surface is a perfectly valid question when discussing such a valuable material as gold. By better understanding the historical use of gold leaf as well as the proper gilding process, one may better understand the precedence of application as well as the factors for ensuring durability. In this blog, understand the history of gold leaf, the proper gilding process in architectural and decorative applications, and the factors that ensure its durability.
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We’re excited to announce that our conservation and stabilization work for the Ochre Court Cignaroli Ceiling Mural at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, received the 2025 Doris Duke Historic Preservation Award for Restoration and Engagement from the Newport Restoration Foundation. For this project, we stabilized the central ceiling mural and performed conservation cleaning to return the vibrancy of the original color palette. We also consolidated existing loose elements in the gold frame that surrounds the central Cignaroli mural. This award is a nice follow-up from the Belmont Chapel receiving the 2024 Doris Duke Historic Preservation Award. Canning will be sponsoring and attending this year’s award celebration on Friday, September 5th. Join us at Rough Point in Newport for the 19th Annual Award Celebration! If you’re interested in attending, click here for more details.
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Another exciting announcement includes our restoration of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hanover, Pennsylvania, receiving the 2025 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Construction Award for Restoration. This project focused on the preservation of the historic fabric of the building’s interior, including the materials of decorative paint, fine art, wood, plaster, and marble. Canning is a sponsor for this year's award ceremony on Thursday, October 16th at Carries Blast Furnaces, a National Historic Landmark in Pittsburgh. We are looking forward to attending the event and celebrating with all the winners. For more information, click here.
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On October 11th from 10–12pm EDT, Preservation Connecticut will be hosting an event called “Talking About Preservation: On Location at Waterbury City Hall” featuring Canning's Principals John Canning and David Riccio, and DeCarlo & Doll's architect Bob Grzywacz. They will be discussing the Waterbury City Hall restoration, where we did extensive repairs to the ornamental and flat plasterwork in the north building, including courtrooms and the former mayor’s offices. As well as the reinstatement of the decorative finishes and historic color scheme throughout the interior, and conserving the original artwork. Save the date and look for any upcoming event details posted on the Preservation Connecticut website.
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We had a great time as a sponsor and exhibitor at the 2025 League of Historic American Theatre's National Conference in July. With more than 420 attendees, the conference represented more than 300 historic theatre owners, operators, volunteers, and so much more. Over four days of professional development, networking, theatre tours, etc., we were able to celebrate the excellence in the historic theatre preservation field and the 2025 Awards Ceremony. A special thanks to everyone who made this conference happen, and to all of those who attended and stopped by our booth. LHAT 2025 National Conference, photograph © Don Telford.
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This year’s PastForward conference by the National Trust for Historic Preservation will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from September 16-18th. The conference will be discussing and raising awareness to strategize and advocate for policies and funding that ensure preservation continues to serve the public. You will discover new ideas for engaging audiences, gain insights on how to respond strategically to challenges, learn powerful ways to raise awareness, and understand ways to preserve a complete history of America through its places. If you’re a craftsperson, artisan, preservationist, or want to be involved in preserving America’s history, this is a great opportunity. You can also participate by joining their livestream. To learn more about the conference, click here.
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With only a few months left before the upcoming Association for Preservation Technology (APT) Annual Conference, we are excited to be a part of the brand-new conference feature for the Craft Trades Spotlight and Showcase Area. We committed to a two-year sponsorship for both the 2025 and 2026 conferences, marking the launch of this brand-new feature debuting in 2025 and celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2026! Don’t miss out on this exciting new conference feature and join us in Providence, Rhode Island, from November 11-15th for this year’s APT Annual Conference. Click here for more information.
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We understand the importance of sharing our expertise and knowledge in our field. Besides the monthly newsletter and blogs we post, we also develop and share downloadable resources to help guide you in your conservation, preservation, and restoration projects. Check out the Resources page and see if any of the resources can help answer some of your questions and provide a better understanding of some of the intricacies in the preservation field.
Check out our Featured Downloadable Resource below. |
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Take a look at our Higher Education Restoration Guide that delves into some examples of our work in historic decoration, restoration, and conservation for Colleges and Universities. |
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The Association for Preservation Technology (APT) is the premier cross-disciplinary organization dedicated to promoting the best technology for conserving historic structure and their settings.
Annual Conference November 11-15, 2025
Providence, RI |
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As a national nonprofit preservation organization, the National Trust for Historic Preservation works to save America's historic places and is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more or get involved. Annual Conference September 16-18, 2025 Milwaukee, WI |
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The American Institute for Conservation and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation work together to promote the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. Partner with us to further that mission.
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JOIN THE CONVERSATION #PerfectingPreservation #jcanningcrew |
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