Finding aid for the Getty Conservation Institute's Tomb of Nefertari project records, 1984-1996, 2005, undated

Lorain Wang


Descriptive Summary

Title: Tomb of Nefertari project records
Date (inclusive): 1984-1996, 2005, undated
Number: IA30008
Creator/Collector: Getty Conservation Institute
Physical Description: 29.6 Linear Feet (24 boxes, including 19 videocassettes, plus 36 flat files)
Physical Description: 0.0045 Gigabytes
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Institutional Records and Archives
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
reference@getty.edu
URL: http://www.getty.edu/research/special_collections/institutional_archives
Abstract: The Tomb of Nefertari project records date from 1984 to 1996, 2005, and undated and consist of files from the Getty Conservation Institute's (GCI) collaboration with the Egyptian Antiquities Organization (EAO), renamed the Supreme Council of Antiquities in 1994, to conserve the wall paintings in the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens, in Luxor, Egypt. Records document project planning, condition assessments, scientific analyses, conservation treatment, environmental monitoring, graphic documentation, site protection planning, and conservation training. The collection also contains press clippings and files relating to the GCI's efforts to disseminate information about the project through publications, videos, exhibitions, public presentations, press conferences, and press releases. There is also an internal GCI report evaluating the project in 2005.
Request Materials: Request access to the physical material described in this inventory through its corresponding library catalog record  and click "Request." Click here for general library access policy . See the Administrative Information section of this finding aid for access restrictions specific to the records described below. Please note, some of the records may be stored off site; advanced notice is required for access to these materials.
Language: Collection material is in Records are primarily in English with some materials in Arabic, Italian, French, and Spanish.

Administrative History

The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) is an operating program of the J. Paul Getty Trust, a not-for-profit cultural and philanthropic organization dedicated to the visual arts. Established in 1985, the GCI's mission is to advance conservation practice in the visual arts, broadly interpreted to include objects, collections, architecture, and cultural heritage sites. Working internationally, it serves the conservation community through scientific research, education and training, model field projects, and the broad dissemination of the results of both its own work and the work of others in the field. In all its endeavors, the GCI focuses on the creation and dissemination of knowledge that will benefit the professionals and organizations responsible for the conservation of the world's cultural heritage.
Through field projects, the GCI works to advance conservation practice worldwide on a range of heritage places including buildings, archaeological sites, and urban environments, and to address problems of regional or international relevance. The field projects that the GCI develops and implements incorporate strong research, planning, and educational objectives. While field projects vary in emphasis, complexity, and scope, all are multidisciplinary and involve working with local partners to build knowledge, skills, and experience and to ensure sustainability. Projects also adhere to a consistent methodology which includes documentation and recording, diagnostic research and assessment, the development and testing of conservation treatments and strategies, implementation, and, finally, dissemination and training. Field project teams consist of the GCI (and sometimes other Getty) staff, representatives of partner organizations, and external consultants. Team members come from a variety of disciplines and include archaeologists, conservators, curators, engineers, architects, art historians, biologists, geologists, chemists, city planners, surveyors, museum administrators, and site managers.
The GCI embarked on its first field project in 1986, collaborating with the Egyptian Antiquities Organization (EAO), renamed in 1994 the Supreme Council of Antiquities, to conserve the wall paintings in the 3,200 year-old tomb of Queen Nefertari, located in the Valley of the Queens near Luxor, Egypt. Among the most important examples of pharaonic art, the wall paintings had suffered considerable paint loss over the years and were in a fragile state. Ancient artisans had applied layers of plaster to the fractured limestone walls of the tomb to create a suitable surface for painting. Centuries of humidity fluctuations within the tomb had caused salt from the limestone and plaster to crystalize, which in turn caused entire sheets of plaster to detach from the wall and paint to erode from plaster surfaces. By 1986, approximately 25% of the paintings had been lost.
To prevent further deterioration and treat existing damage, the GCI and EAO formed a multidisciplinary, international group of experts to work on an intensive six-year campaign that was conducted over three phases. The conservation team was led by Italian conservators Paolo and Laura Mora, while Spanish conservator Eduardo Porta served as field coordinator for the project. Work included condition assessments, scientific analyses, emergency treatment, conservation of the wall paintings, and training of conservators from Egypt and other countries. The first phase (June 1986-November 1987) of the campaign focused on condition assessments and researching treatment strategies. Emergency treatment was also applied to areas of wall paintings in danger of imminent collapse. The second phase (November 1987-December 1988) focused on full-scale conservation treatments to the wall paintings, which was limited to consolidation and cleaning to maintain the site's historical integrity. Conservation treatment of the wall paintings was completed and documented during Phase III (November 1989–April 1992). Due to EAO's interest in opening the tomb to the public, Phase IV (April 1992-Spring 1997) was added to the project, extending the campaign to 11 years, to monitor and analyze the tomb's microenvironment and periodically inspect the condition of the wall paintings.
The GCI published results of the project in two monographs: Wall Paintings of the Tomb of Nefertari: First Progress Report (1987) and Art and Eternity: The Nefertari Wall Painting Conservation Project 1986-1992 (1993).

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Public access to materials in the collection containing sensitive information is restricted. Sealed materials are closed to both Getty staff and the public. The restriction dates, which range from 2031 to 2046, are noted within the finding aid.
The J. Paul Getty Trust reserves the right to restrict access to any records held by the Institutional Archives.

Publication Rights

Contact Library Rights and Reproductions  at the Getty Research Institute for copyright information and permission to publish.

Preferred Citation

[Cite the item and series (as appropriate)], Tomb of Nefertari project records, Getty Conservation Institute. Institutional Archives, Research Library, Getty Research Institute, Finding aid no. IA30008
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifaia30008

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The records described in this finding aid were transferred by the Getty Conservation Institute and form part of accessions 1994.IA.01, 2015.IA.09, 2015.IA.10, and 2017.IA.09.

Processing Information Note

The Tomb of Nefertari project records were fully processed by Lorain Wang in 2015 and 2016.

Related Materials

The following materials are offered as additional sources of information on the people, programs, and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.
Communications Department Audio and Video Recordings, 1973-2004, J. Paul Getty Trust. Institutional Records and Archives, Getty Research Institute, Finding aid no. IA30003.
Director Miguel Angel Corzo records, 1982-1999 (bulk 1990-1998), undated, J. Paul Getty Trust. Institutional Records and Archives, Getty Research Institute, Finding aid no. IA30025. Majority closed until 2034.
Director Luis Monreal records, 1974-1991 (bulk 1985-1990), J. Paul Getty Trust. Institutional Records and Archives, Getty Research Institute, Finding aid no. IA40021. Closed until 2027
Frank D. Preusser records, 1985-1996, J. Paul Getty Trust. Institutional Records and Archives, Getty Research Institute, Finding aid no. IA30018. Closed until 2028.
Press clippings, 1954-2009, 2013-2015, J. Paul Getty Trust. Institutional Archives, Research Library, Getty Research Institute, Finding aid no. IA30017. [The clippings in this collection regarding the Nefertari project most likely duplicate those in the Tomb of Nefertari project records.]
Most of the photos related to the project are held in the Getty Conservation Institute's Visual Resources Library.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Tomb of Nefertari project records date from 1984 to 1996, 2005, and undated and consist of the Getty Conservation Institute's (GCI) files from its collaboration with the Egyptian Antiquities Organization (EAO) to conserve the wall paintings in the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens, in Luxor, Egypt. Records in the collection were primarily maintained by the following GCI staff (the positions they held at the time are listed): Luis Monreal, first director of the GCI; Miguel Angel Corzo, initially a consultant, then director of Special Projects, and later second director of the GCI; Frank Preusser, initially director of Scientific Research and later associate director for Programs and acting co-director of the GCI; Mahasti Afshar, Program Research Coordinator; and Neville Agnew, Special Projects Director. The records cover all four phases of the project and document project planning, condition assessment surveys, scientific analyses, conservation treatment, environmental monitoring, graphic documentation, site protection planning, and conservation training. Files include signed copies of project agreements for each phase, budgets, meeting notes and agenda, correspondence and memos, technical data, reports, logbooks, photographs, condition surveys, and maps. A significant portion of the collection also documents national and international press coverage of the Nefertari project and the GCI's efforts to disseminate information through publications, videos, exhibitions, public presentations, press conferences, and press releases. These materials include correspondence and memos, drafts, exhibition visitor surveys and statistics, exhibition texts and mockups, an exhibition catalog, press releases, press clippings, and ephemera. The collection also contains an internal GCI report evaluating the Tomb of Nefertari project in 2005. In addition, there are a few folders that pertain to two other GCI and EAO collaborations: developing oxygen-free display and storage cases for the Royal Mummy Collection at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and an environmental monitoring study of the Great Sphinx at the Giza Plateau.

Arrangement

Records are arranged into three series:
;Series I. Field campaigns, 1985-1996
;Series II. Project dissemination, 1984-1996
and
Series III. Project evaluation, 2005.

Indexing Terms

Subjects - Names

Nefertari, Queen, consort of Ramses II, King of Egypt

Subjects - Topics

Exhibitions
Tombs -- Egypt
Environmental monitoring
Architecture, Ancient -- Egypt
Painting -- Conservation and restoration
Great Sphinx (Egypt)
Mummy cases
Archaeological sites -- Conservation and restoration
Mural painting and decoration -- Conservation and restoration -- Egypt -- Thebes (Extinct city)

Subjects - Places

Valley of the Queens (Egypt)

Genres and Forms of Material

Memorandums
Logs (records)
Videotapes
Press releases
Photographs
Clippings (information artifacts)
Technical reports
Contracts
Condition surveys
Electronic documents

Contributors

J. Paul Getty Museum
Fondazione Memmo (Italy)
Hay'at al-Āthār al-Mişrīyah
Getty Conservation Institute
Majlis al-A'lá lil-Āthār (Egypt)
J. Paul Getty Trust. Public Affairs Department


 

Series I. Field campaigns, 1985-1996, undated

Physical Description: 23.1 Linear Feet (13 boxes and 36 flat files)

Scope and Content Note

This series documents the four phases of the collaboration between the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) and the Egyptian Antiquities Organization (EAO) to conserve the wall paintings in Nefertari's tomb. Records date from 1985 to 1996 and undated and pertain to project planning, condition assessment surveys, scientific analyses, conservation treatment, environmental monitoring, graphic documentation, site protection planning, and conservation training. Materials consist of administrative files, including copies of signed EAO and GCI agreements for each project phase, budget information, and logistical information; correspondence with EAO representatives, project personnel, Egypt's Minister of Culture Farouk Hosny (Hosni), GCI staff, Trust president and CEO Harold M. Williams, scientists, museum curators, researchers, and the general public; meeting notes and agenda; trip reports; logbooks; technical data; treatment and scientific analysis reports; photographs; and condition surveys.

Arrangement

Records are arranged into the following subseries:
 

Series I.A. Phase I, 1985-1988, undated

Physical Description: 1.3 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Scope and Content Note

These records date from 1985 to 1988 and undated and relate to Phase I (June 1986-November 1987) of the Nefertari project, which focused on assessing and documenting the condition of the tomb, researching treatment strategies, and applying emergency treatment to particularly fragile areas in the tomb. Scientific research was also conducted, which included studying the geologic, hydrologic, climatologic, microbal, and microfloral status of the tomb as well as performing chemical, spectrographic, and x-ray diffraction tests on plasters, pigments, and salts. Records include a copy of the GCI and EAO's signed project agreement for Phase I; correspondence and memos with EAO chairman Ahmed Khadry, project personnel, and Harold M. Williams; external correspondence; budget information; meeting agenda and notes; trip reports; and data and reports from scientific analyses of the tomb. The results from the first phase were published in Wall Paintings of the Tomb of Nefertari: First Progress Report (1987), which can be found in Series II.C. Publications. Some of the records predate the start of the project and document initial discussions between the GCI and EAO regarding possible collaborations prior to the selection of Nefertari's tomb. The files also include discussions of possible training projects and planning of a non-ferrous metals conservation workshop co-organized by the GCI and EAO.

Arrangement

Records are arranged into the following categories: Administrative, Correspondence, Technical data and reports, and Training.
 

Administrative:

 

Agreement:

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Draft agreements (negotiation stage leading to final agreement), 1985-1986

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EAO & GCI agreement, June 18, 1986

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Budget, 1986-1987

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Contracts, 1986-1987

Access Information

Folder restricted until 2031.
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Equipment, 1986-1987

 

Meetings:

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First briefing Cairo September 1986

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In house review, 1986

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2031.
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Second review 1/7-8/87 Cairo, January 1987

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Final treatment & press conference, July 1987

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EAO-GCI joint committee, November 1987

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Meeting notes, 1986-1987

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Preliminary: Consultations & research, 1985-1986

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2036.
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Proposed workplan, 1986

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Trip reports, 1986-1987

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2037.
 

Correspondence:

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Aldana, Guillermo, 1986-1987

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Arai, Hideo, 1986-1988

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Chicago House, 1986-1987

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Director's correspondence, 1985

Access Information

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El-Arini, Omar, 1986-1987

Access Information

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El-Baz, Farouk, 1986-1987

Access Information

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EAO, 1986-1987

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Esmael, Feisal A., 1987

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General correspondence, 1985-1987

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Memos, 1986-1987

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2031.
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Montoto, Modesto, 1986-1987

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Consultants: Mora, Paolo & Laura, 1986-1987

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Pastorello, P., 1987

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Saleh, Saleh A., 1986, undated

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Williams, Harold, 1987

 

Technical data and reports:

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Technical data: Analyses of samples (Rodarte & Dietrich), 1986-1987

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Technical data: Emergency consolidation, 1987

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2031.
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Technical data: Digitizing wall paintings, 1987

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Log book - color measurements, 1986-1987

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Reports & updates, 1986-1987

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Original documents (reports), 1986-1987

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Reports: Biological Investigations, January 19, 1987

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Reports: Color measurements, December 15, 1986

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First quarterly report, December 19, 1986

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Reports: First report on analyses of samples, December 28, 1986

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Reports: Geology reports, 1986-1987

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Reports: Microclimatic monitoring, October 28, 1986

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MS: Microclimatic survey (Esmael), 1987

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Reports: Microflora report, March 1987

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Reports: Non-destructive testing, 1986-1987

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Reports: Spectroscopy report, March 1987

 

Training:

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Project-related training, 1986-1987

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2031.
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Training courses: GCI proposed metals workshop, 1986-1987

 

Series I.B. Phase II, 1987-1989

Physical Description: 0.4 Linear Feet (1 box)

Scope and Content Note

These records date from 1987 to 1989 and relate to Phase II (November 1987-December 1988) of the Nefertari project, during which conservation treatment of the wall paintings was carried out and documented. Training of Egyptian and foreign conservators was also incorporated into this phase. Records include a copy of the GCI and EAO's signed project agreement for Phase II; budget information; correspondence and memos with EAO chairman Ahmed Khadry and his successors, Mohammed Abdel Halim Nur el-Din and Sayed Tawfik, project personnel, and Harold M. Williams, external correspondence, meeting agenda and notes, trip reports, an evaluation of the initial work completed during Phase II, and data and reports from scientific analyses of the tomb. There are also materials relating to the Getty Trust's Board of Trustees and the GCI's Advisory Committee's visit to Egypt in November 1988; a jewelry fragment, believed to have been worn by Nefertari, found in one of the chambers of the tomb in 1988; and nitrogen-filled display/storage cases developed by the GCI for the Royal Mummy Collection in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Arrangement

Records are arranged into the following categories: Administrative, Correspondence, and Technical data and reports.
 

Administrative:

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11/87 Agreement, 1987-1988

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Budget, 1987-1988

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Contracts, 1988

Access Information

Folder restricted until 2031.
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Corzo's trip reports, 1988

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2031.
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Evaluation of first part of second phase, 1988

 

Meetings:

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Meeting minutes and notes, 1987-1988

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2038.
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11/11/88 Advisory committee, 1988

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4/12 Review committee, 1988

Access Information

Folder restricted until 2031.
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Board of trustees and advisory committee meetings, 1988

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Proposed work, 1987-1988

 

Correspondence:

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Chicago House, 1987-1988

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Curtis, Garness, 1988

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EAO, 1987-1988

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El-Baz, Farouk, 1987-1988

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Esmael, Feisal, 1988

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General, 1987-1988

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Hawass, Zahi, 1988

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Helmy, R., 1987

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Hosny (Hosni), Farouk, 1988

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Memos, 1987-1988

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Mora, Paolo & Laura, 1988

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Porta, Eduardo, 1988

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Rickerby, Stephen, 1988

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Williams, Harold, 1987

 

Technical data and reports:

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Technical: Color monitoring, 1988-1989

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Technical: Gold piece, 1988

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Reports, 1988-1989

 

Series I.C. Interim Phases II and III, 1987, 1989, undated

Physical Description: 0.4 Linear Feet (1 box)

Scope and Content Note

These records, dating from 1987 and 1989 and undated, document the interim period (January-October 1989) between Phases II and III. During this period the GCI and EAO met multiple times to review work that had been completed at the end of Phase II and to discuss the long term scope of the project. Agenda and minutes from these meetings are present in this subseries as well as correspondence and memos with EAO chairman Sayed Tawfik and project personnel regarding topics such as environmental monitoring and site protection. Materials also contain reports and data from analyses of plaster and pigment samples and color monitoring.

Arrangement

Records are arranged into the following categories: Administrative, Correspondence, and Technical data and reports.
 

Administrative:

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Contract, 1989

Access Information

Folder restricted until 2031.
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Equipment, 1989

 

Meetings:

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Meeting notes, 1989

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Joint technical committee, 1989

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3/6 EAO at GCI, 1989

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Research protocol, 1989

 

Correspondence:

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EAO, 1989

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Esmael, Feisal, 1989

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General, 1989

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Hosny (Hosni), Dr. Farouk (visit to Los Angeles), 1989

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Memos, 1989

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Mora, Paolo, 1989

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Porta, Eduardo, 1989

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Ross, John, 1989

 

Technical data and reports:

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Color data, 1989

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Data, 1989

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Tomb samples analyses, 1989

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Pigment and binding media data, 1987, 1989, undated

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Progress report on the pigment, binding media and coat analysis of samples from tomb, undated

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Reports, 1989

 

Series I.D. Phase III, 1988-1992

Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet (5 boxes)

Scope and Content Note

These records date from 1988 to 1992 and relate to Phase III (November 1989-April 1992) of the Nefertari project, during which conservation treatment of the wall paintings was continued, completed, and documented. Records include a copy of the GCI and EAO's signed project agreement for the third phase, correspondence and memos with EAO chairman Sayed Tawfik and his successor Mohamed Ibrahim Bakr and project personnel, external correspondence, budget information, meeting agenda and notes, reports, and logbooks. The logbooks consist of 5 volumes and contain color photographs and entries by members of the conservation team on daily conservation activities. In addition to conservation treatments, the records in this subseries also document conservation training, including a wall paintings conservation course held in Luxor, the design and installation of an environmental monitoring system in the tomb, scientific analysis of tomb samples, photo documentation planning, research into the construction of a tomb replica, and the development of a site protection plan. There are also correspondence and drawings in the general correspondence folder relating to the jewelry fragment, believed to have been worn by Nefertari, found in one of the tomb chambers in 1988.

Arrangement

Records are arranged into the following categories: Administrative, Correspondence, Technical data and reports, and Training.
 

Administrative:

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Activities reports, 1989-1991

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2039.
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Agreement (Phase III), 1989-1990

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Budget, 1990-1992

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Conservator lists, interns and trainees, 1990-1992

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Contracts, 1989-1991

Access Information

Folder restricted until 2031.
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Equipment, 1989-1991

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Meetings: Joint technical committee, November 19, 1989

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Meeting notes, March 14, 1992

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Spring photo campaigns, 1992

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Visitors to the tomb, 1990-1992

 

Correspondence:

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Aldana, Guillermo, 1991

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Arai, Hideo, 1990-1991

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EAO, 1989-1992

Access Information

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El-Arini, Omar, 1989, 1991

Access Information

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El-Baz, Farouk, 1990

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Esmael, Feisal, 1989

Access Information

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General, 1989-1992

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Guillamet, Eudald, 1992

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Helmy, Romany, 1989-1991

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Hosni (Hosny), Farouk, 1991-1992

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Leblanc, Christian, 1990

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Memos, 1989-1992

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Mora, Paolo and Laura 1989-1992

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Porta, Eduardo, 1989-1992

Access Information

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Rickerby, Stephen, 1990-1991

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Ross, John, 1989-1991

 

Technical data, research, and reports:

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Chicago House, 1990

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Image resources, 1990

 

Logbooks: 1989-1992

Scope and Content Note

The entries in the logbooks were made by various members of the conservation team, which included Paolo and Laura Mora (directors of the conservation team), Eduardo Porta (field coordinator), Stephen Rickerby, Luigi de Cesaris, Giuseppe Giordano, Lorenza M.G. D'Alessandro, Giorgio Capriotti, Adriano Luzi, Hussein Mohamed-Ali, and Said Ahmed El-Shahhat. Photos were by Guillermo Aldana.
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Volume 1, October 3-December 15, 1989

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Volume 2, February 2-April 6, 1990

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Volume 3, October 11-December 14, 1990

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Volume 4, October 9-December 23, 1991

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Volume 5, February 5-April 7, 1992

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Maps and site plans, undated

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Maps and site plans (oversize), undated

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Moisture in tomb, 1992

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Monitoring station, 1990-1992

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Report on the conservation treatment. Phase III Part III. October-November 1990. Tobit Curteis, circa 1990

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Reports, 1989-1992

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Stephen J. Rickerby: Nefertari reports (Phase I-III.1), 1988-1990

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Stephen Rickerby: Report on the conservation treatment, Phase III.2, Feb-April 1990, circa 1990

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Site protection plan, 1989-1992

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Site protection - progress reports, 1991-1992

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Tomb replica, 1990-1991

 

Training:

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Training, 1990-1992

Access Information

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Training courses: 10/13/90-12/13/90 GCI wall painting conservation program, 1990

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Training courses: Porta's course in conservation of pharaonic mural, April 1990

 

Series I.E. Phase IV, 1992-1996

Physical Description: 0.2 Linear Feet (1 box)

Scope and Content Note

This subseries documents the fourth and final phase of the Nefertari project. With conservation treatment completed, Phase IV was added due to EAO's interest in opening the tomb to the public. From April 1992 to April 1997, the GCI monitored and analyzed the tomb's microenvironment and periodically inspected the condition of the wall paintings. Records date from 1992 to 1996 and include a copy of the GCI and EAO's signed project agreement for the fourth phase and correspondence and memos with EAO chairman Mohamed Ibrahim Bakr, his successor Abdul Halim Nur el Din, and project personnel regarding environmental monitoring, condition surveys, site protection, and installation of a walkway at the tomb.

Arrangement

Records are arranged alphabetically.
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Agreement (Phase IV), 1992

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EAO, 1992-1995

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Environmental monitoring, 1992-1995

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Environmental monitoring and condition survey reports, 1993-1994, 1996

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General (correspondence), 1992-1993, 1995

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Luzi, Adriano, 1995

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Memos, 1992, 1994-1995, undated

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Walkway, 1992-1996

 

Series 1.F. Graphic documentation, 1986-1994, undated

Physical Description: 19.8 Linear Feet (4 boxes and 36 flat files)

Scope and Content Note

This subseries contains graphic documentation dating from 1986 to 1994 and undated for the tomb of Nefertari project. Records include condition assessment surveys, photographs, line drawings, and maps of the Valley of the Queens. The photographs are of pigment and plaster analysis and a satellite image of Luxor. The condition surveys document the condition of the wall paintings before and after conservation treatment. The entire tomb was systematically photographed in black and white and each photograph was superimposed with four transparent acetate sheets with symbols identifying each type of deterioration and its location. The wall painting designs were also replicated in linear form on the transparent sheets. Most of the surveys in this subseries are copies of the transparent sheets printed on photographic paper and contain titles, topographic references, and scales. An almost complete set of the surveys (tables 131-135 appear to be missing) is present, as well as drafts and working copies of the tables. Line drawings that were used for the tables and tomb replica are also in this subseries. A complete inventory of the tables can be found in folder "Slide catalogue and other graphic documentation" under Photographs. The folder also contains memos regarding a project to organize the GCI's Nefertari project slides and other photographic material.
Additional maps can be found in Series 1.D. Phase III.

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged in the following categories: Condition assessment surveys, Line drawings, Maps, and Photographs.
 

Condition assessment surveys:

box 2015.IA.09-08

Condition survey list and recommendations for digitizing, undated

 

Pre-treatment surveys:

flatfile 2015.IA.09-18

K North and pillar .I, .II, .III, .IV - .1, .2, .3, .4; Inventory nos: PMT (Positive matte transfer) 1 thru 19, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-19

K ceiling - 1., 2.; East, North, West - 1., 2., 3.; South 2., 3., 4.; Inventory nos.: PMT 20 thru 33, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-20

C West, North, East, South .1, .2, .3, .4; Inventory nos: PMT 115-130, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-21

G West, East, North - .1, .2, .3, .4, (PMT 135-146), 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-22

M North, South, East, West - .1, .2, .3, .4; Inventory nos.: PMT 147-162, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-23

B West, East, North - .1, .2, .4; Inventory nos.: PMT 163-168, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-24

1. Emergency, 2. Intervention Support, 3. Intervention Surface; B-C-D-E-F-G ceiling .1, .2, .4; Inventory nos: PMT 169-173, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-25

D North-South .1, .2, .4; Inventory nos.: PMT 174-176, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-26

E South - West - North - East .1, .2, .4; Inventory nos: PMT 177-182, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-27

F North - South .1, .2, .4; Inventory nos: PMT 183-185, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-28

H-I-J ceilings .1, .2, .4; Inventory nos: PMT 186-188, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-29

H West - East .1, .2, .4; Inventory nos.: PMT 189-191, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-30

I West .1, .2, .3, .4; East, South - .1, .2, .4; Inventory nos: PMT 192-201, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-31

J South .1, .2, .4; West - East .1, .2, .3, .4; Inventory nos.: PMT 202-208, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-32

K East, West .1, .2, .3, .4; K Ceiling .1, .2, .3; Inventory nos: PMT 209-219, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-33

L North - South .1, .2, .3, .4; Inventory nos: PMT 220-223, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-34

L-M, N-O, P-Q ceilings - .1, .2, .3; Inventory nos: PMT 224-226, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-35

N North - South .1, .2, .3, .4; Inventory nos: PMT 227-230, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-36

O North, South, West, East - .1, .2, .3, .4; Inventory nos: PMT 231-246, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-37

P West, East - .1, .2, .4; Inventory nos: PMT 247-249, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-38

Q North, East, South - .1, .2, .3, .4; West .1, .3; Inventory nos: PMT 250-263, 1986

flatfile 2015.IA.09-39

K South and pillars I., II., III., IV. - .1, .2, .3; Inventory nos: PMT 67-81, 1989

flatfile 2015.IA.09-40

J East, West 1., 2., 3.; HIJ Ceiling 1., 2., 3.; M East, West, North, South 1., 2., 3.; O East, West, North, South 1., 2., 3.; P East, West 1., 2., 3.; Spring campaigns - III.2; Inventory nos: PMT 34-66, February 2- April 7, 1990

flatfile 2015.IA.09-41

G East, West, North, South .1, .2, .3; I East, West, North, South .1, .2, .3; J East, West, North, South .1, .2., .3; Inventory nos.: PMT 82-114, 1991

 

Final condition survey:

flatfile 2015.IA.09-42

BCDEFG, HIJ, L-M, N-O, P-Q ceiling .1, .2, .3; Inventory nos: PMT 264-272, April 1992

flatfile 2015.IA.09-43

B North, West, East .1, .2, .3; Inventory nos: PMT 273-278, April 1992

flatfile 2015.IA.09-44

C North, West, South, East .1, .2, .3; Inventory nos.: PMT 279-290, April 1992

flatfile 2015.IA.09-45

D North, South .1, .2, .3; Inventory nos. PMT 291-293, April 1992

flatfile 2015.IA.09-46

E South, West, North, East 1., 2., 3.; Inventory nos. PMT 294-299, April 1992

flatfile 2015.IA.09-47

F North, South .1, .2, .3; Inventory nos.: PMT 300-302, April 1992

flatfile 2015.IA.09-48

H West, East .1, .2, .3; Inventory nos.: PMT 303-305, April 1992

flatfile 2015.IA.09-49

Q East, North, West, South 1., 2., 3.; Inventory nos.: PMT 306-315, April 1992

box 2015.IA.09-17

Mixed drafts and working copies, undated

Physical Description: (5 folders)
 

Line drawings of tomb:

box 2015.IA.09-50

Black/white line drawings of tomb of Nefertari wall paintings (basis for condition survey), undated

box 2015.IA.09-51

Oversize black/white line drawings of tomb of Nefertari wall paintings (Basis for condition survey, undated

flatfile 2015.IA.09-55

Line drawings of entire tomb (used for tomb model), 1992

 

Maps:

flatfile 2015.IA.09-53

Maps of Valley of the Queens, undated

flatfile 2015.IA.09-54

Maps, undated

box 2015.IA.09-51

Topographic map, undated

 

Photographs:

box 2015.IA.09-08

Locations of technical photos and photo lists, undated

box 2015.IA.09-08

Pigment analysis photos, undated

box 2015.IA.09-08

Prints of green-blue and yellow pigments under cross-polar illumination and red pigment under cross-illumination, undated

box 2015.IA.09-08

Pigment analysis prints (I), undated

box 2015.IA.09-08

Pigment analysis prints (II), undated

box 2015.IA.09-08

Pigment analysis negatives, undated

box 2015.IA.09-08

Polaroid photos of painted plaster samples, 1988

box 2015.IA.09-08

Saleh sample #7, 1986

box 2015.IA.09-08

Saleh sample #8, 1986

box 2015.IA.09-51

Satellite photo of Luxor, undated

box 2015.IA.09-08

Slide catalogue and other graphic documentation, 1991-1994

 

Series II. Project dissemination, 1984-1996

Physical Description: 6.5 Linear Feet (11 boxes, including 19 videocassetes, plus 1 flat file)

Scope and Content Note

This series documents the Getty Conservation Institute's (GCI) efforts to disseminate information about the Nefertari project through publications, videos, exhibitions, public presentations, press releases, and press conferences. This series also contains national and international press coverage of the project and associated exhibitions. Records date from 1984 to 1996 and consist of correspondence and memos, exhibition planning documents, Getty press releases, press clippings, articles in Getty publications ( Calendar and Trust Bulletin), ephemera, and videocassettes. A few of the folders pertain to two other GCI and Egyptian Antiquities Organization (EAO) collaborations: developing oxygen-free display and storage cases for the Royal Mummy Collection at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and an environmental monitoring study to determine the causes of deterioration of the Great Sphinx at the Giza Plateau.

Arrangement

Records are arranged into the following subseries:
 

Series II.A. Exhibitions, 1988-1996

Physical Description: 1.4 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

Scope and Content Note

These records, dating 1988-1996, primarily document the GCI's involvement in preparing two exhibitions related to the Nefertari project. In the tomb of Nefertari: Conservation of the wall paintings was exhibited at the J. Paul Getty Museum from November 1992 to February 1993 and included a life-size, post-conservation photographic replica of one of the tomb's chambers. The GCI also collaborated with the Fondazione Memmo to organize Nefertari: Light of Egypt (Nefertari, luce d'Egitto), which was on display at the Palazzo Ruspoli in Rome (October 1994-February 1995) and featured a virtual reality display of the tomb. The exhibition traveled to Promotrice delle Belle Arti, in Turin (December 1995-April 1996) and Bari, Italy (Spring 1997). The virtual reality display was also exhibited in multiple places including the National Geographic Society in Washington D.C., the 53rd Venice Film Festival, and the Epcot Center in Florida. (See Series II.D. Television/film productions for videos of the Italian and Epcot Center virtual reality displays.) Records in this subseries include correspondence, memos, visitor surveys and statistics, object lists, exhibition texts and mockups, and a catalog for the Getty exhibition. Some of the files also pertain to discussions of traveling exhibitions that were never realized. Among the exhibition records are also files pertaining to the GCI's work developing oxygen-free display and storage cases for the Royal Mummy Collection at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Additional files relating to the two exhibitions can be found in the other three subseries of Series II. Project Dissemination.

Arrangement

Records are arranged alphabetically.
box 2015.IA.09-09

Children's exhibit, 1992

 

Fondazione Memmo exhibition:

box 2015.IA.09-09

Concepts, undated

Physical Description: (3 folders)
box 2015.IA.09-09

Exhibit plan, 1994

box 2015.IA.09-09

Exhibition correspondence, 1993-1995

box 2015.IA.09-09

Exhibition guide, 1994

box 2015.IA.09-10

Rome planning, 1993-1994

box 2015.IA.09-10

Rome video, 1994-1995

box 2015.IA.09-10

Turin, 1995-1996

 

Virtual reality:

box 2015.IA.09-10

Virtual reality, 1994-1995

box 2015.IA.09-10

Virtual reality GCI, 1995

box 2015.IA.09-10

School visit to GCI to see Nefertari virtual reality, 1995

box 2015.IA.09-10

Visitor stats, 1994-1995

 

JPGM exhibition:

box 2015.IA.09-10

Catalog dummy, 1992

box 2015.IA.09-10

Catalog memos, 1990-1992

box 2015.IA.09-57 RESTRICTED

Catalog reviews, 1991-1992

Access Information

Folder restricted until 2027.
box 2015.IA.09-10

Harold Williams correspondence, 1991-1992

box 2015.IA.09-10

Memos, 1990-1993

box 2015.IA.09-10

Objects, 1991-1992

box 2015.IA.09-11

Objects and catalog text, circa 1992

box 2015.IA.09-11

Opening and events, 1992-1993

box 2015.IA.09-11

Panels, 1992

box 2015.IA.09-11

Photos - memos and notes, 1991-1992

box 2015.IA.09-11

Replica, 1991-1993

box 2015.IA.09-11

Tomb measurements for 11/30 meeting with JPGM, 1990

box 2015.IA.09-11

Travelling exhibits - Barcelona/Mexico, 1992-1993

box 2015.IA.09-11

Travelling exhibits and prize, 1992-1994

box 2015.IA.09-11

Visitor survey, 1993

 

Mummy display and storage case:

box 2015.IA.09-16

Mummy case, 1988-1994

box 2015.IA.09-16

EAO poster - Mummy case, 1992

box 2015.IA.09-11

Torino exhibition, 1989-1990

 

Series II.B. Public Affairs, 1984-1996

Physical Description: 2.5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

Scope and Content Note

This subseries contains public affairs files, dating 1984-1996, that primarily document national and international press coverage of the Nefertari project and the associated exhibitions held at the Getty and in Italy. Some files also pertain to public presentations on the project. Records include Getty press releases, press clippings, magazine articles, articles in Getty publications ( Calendar and Bulletin), press kits, and correspondence with the news media and the Getty's Public Affairs Department. The two volumes of "The Tomb of Nefertari selected press clippings" duplicate many of the clippings filed elsewhere in the subseries. Some of the news clippings pertain to the GCI's mummy case project and environmental monitoring study of the Great Sphinx at the Giza Plateau.

Arrangement

Records are arranged alphabetically.
box 2015.IA.09-12

Calendar article, 1992

box 2015.IA.09-12

Egyptian press coverage, 1987, 1992

box 2015.IA.09-12

Epoca/Avencia Adventuras article, 1992

box 2015.IA.09-12

Exhibition press preview and kit, 1992

box 2015.IA.09-12

Italian exhibition press clippings, 1994-1996

Physical Description: (2 folders)
box 2015.IA.09-12

Italian Nefertari exhibition press, 1994-1995

box 2015.IA.09-13

Mummies news clippings, 1992-1994

box 2015.IA.09-12

National Geographic, 1988, 1990

box 2015.IA.09-12

Nefertari project press kit, 1986-1988

box 2015.IA.09-13

News clippings, 1986-1996

Physical Description: (9 folders)
box 2015.IA.09-50

News clippings (oversize), 1994-1995

box 2015.IA.09-12

Opening of the tomb, 1992

box 2015.IA.09-12

Photo requests, 1988-1989, 1992, 1996

box 2015.IA.09-12

Photography, 1991-1992

box 2015.IA.09-12

Press conference #1, 1986

box 2015.IA.09-12

Press conference #2, 1987

box 2015.IA.09-12

Press conference #2 - Exhibit, 1986-1987

box 2015.IA.09-12

Press ( Life) coverage, 1987-1988

box 2015.IA.09-12

Press releases, 1986-1994

box 2015.IA.09-12

Public affairs correspondence, 1986-1996

box 2015.IA.09-12

Public presentations, 1986-1988

box 2015.IA.09-13

Sphinx news clippings, 1991-1992

box 2015.IA.09-14

The Tomb of Nefertari selected press clippings, Volume 1 1984-1988

box 2015.IA.09-14

The Tomb of Nefertari selected press clippings, Volume 2 1989-1992

box 2015.IA.09-12

Trust Bulletin, 1987, 1992

 

Series II.C. Publications, 1987-1996, undated

Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet (1 box and 1 flat file)

Scope and Content Note

Files in this subseries date from 1987 to 1996 and undated and primarily pertain to monographs published by the GCI. Records include a copy of Wall Paintings of the Tomb of Nefertari: First Progress Report (1987) and correspondence, memos, and drafts associated with the preparation of the progress report and that of the final report, Art and Eternity: The Nefertari Wall Painting Conservation Project 1986-1992 (1993). There are also files associated with another GCI publication, House of Eternity: The Tomb of Nefertari (1996), a guide to the iconography of the wall paintings tailored to a general audience. Records also include ephemera relating to the tomb of Nefertari project and the associated Italian exhibition.

Arrangement

Records are arranged alphabetically.
 

Ephemera:

box 2015.IA.09-15

EAO booklets and greeting cards, undated

flatfile 2015.IA.09-56

Italy exhibit posters, circa 1994

box 2015.IA.09-15

Project stickers, undated

flatfile 2015.IA.09-56

Special Projects poster/brochure, circa 1992

 

Final report:

box 2015.IA.09-15

Copyright application, 1993

box 2015.IA.09-15

Copyright requests, 1992-1993

box 2015.IA.09-57 RESTRICTED

Final report correspondence, 1989-1993

Access Information

Folder restricted until 2031.
box 2015.IA.09-57 RESTRICTED

Garfield, Donald and Cynthia Cote, 1989-1990

Access Information

Folder restricted until 2031.
box 2015.IA.09-15

Mora, Paolo and Laura, 1988-1992

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2031.
box 2015.IA.09-15

Photodocumentation and bibliography research, 1990, 1992

box 2015.IA.09-15

Porta, Eduardo, 1988-1992

box 2015.IA.09-15

Rickerby, Stephen, 1991-1992

box 2015.IA.09-15

Ross, John, 1990

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2031.
box 2015.IA.09-15

Source materials for the study of the wall paintings of the tomb of Nefertari, 1991

 

First progress report:

box 2015.IA.09-15

First progress report, July 1987

box 2015.IA.09-15

Progress report publication preparation, 1987

box 2015.IA.09-15

Reviews of first progress report, 1990

box 2015.IA.09-15

Nefertari book (House of Eternity) 1995-1996

Access Information

Select documents separated and restricted until 2031.
box 2015.IA.09-15

Publication (copies of tomb plans), undated

 

Series II.D. Television/film productions, 1986-1995

Physical Description: 1.6 Linear Feet (3 boxes, including 19 videocassettes)

Scope and Content Note

Records in this subseries date from 1986 to 1995 and consist mostly of videocassettes and correspondence and memos concerning film productions co-produced by the GCI on the Nefertari project. Productions documented here include documentaries by BBC and Televisa; a short video for the Nefertari exhibit at the Getty containing excerpts from the BBC documentary; and a video containing footage of the Nefertari exhibit in Rome and excerpts from both the BBC and Televisa documentaries. There are also videos of the virtual reality display that was part of the Italian exhibit and later installed at the Epcot Center. Files also include requests from other production companies to film at Nefertari's tomb.

Arrangement

Records are arranged alphabetically.
box 2015.IA.09-16

BBC, 1986-1987

box 2015.IA.09-16

Exhibition - BBC, 1990-1992

box 2015.IA.09-16

Filming requests, 1987, 1991-1992

box 2015.IA.09-16

Televisa, 1991-1993

box 2015.IA.09-16

Video, 1995

 

Videocassettes:

box 2015.IA.10-01

Chronicle Queen Nefertari (BBC), 1989, 1992

 

Italy exhibition:

box 2015.IA.10-01

Nefertari: Luce D'Egitto, October 13, 1995

box 2015.IA.10-01

Nefertari, Luce d'Egitto - Nicole Wilke/Cometa, Producers, English version, 1995

box 2015.IA.10-01

Girato - Nostra Nefertari (Italy Exhibition), circa 1994

box 2015.IA.10-01

Nefertari, Luce d'Egitto - Exhibition preparation, objects/ tomb paintings, opening night dinner, Corzo slide lecture (Italian), October 1994

box 2015.IA.10-02

Luce D'egitto (virtual reality), circa 1994

box 2015.IA.10-01

Nefertari en la eternidad (Televisa, 66min), 1993

box 2015.IA.10-01

Nefertari, For Whom the Sun Shines (Chronicle Queen Nefertari, produced for the 1992 JPGM exhibit), circa 1992

box 2015.IA.10-01

Nefertari: The search for eternal life (Televisa, 38 min), 1994

box 2015.IA.10-02

Nefertari virtual reality (Done by Infobyte June 95 for Disney Epcot), 1995

 

Series III. Project evaluation, 2005

Physical Description: 0.0045 Gigabytes

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of a 2005 GCI internal report evaluating the collaboration between the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) and the Egyptian Antiquities Organization (EAO) to conserve the wall paintings in Nefertari's tomb. The purpose of the report was to identify weaknesses in the project in order to improve future collaborations. The report was authored by GCI staff David Myers, Neville Agnew, and Martha Demas.
 

NEF_Eval_Internal_20051130.pdf, 2005

Access Information

This file, part of accession 2017.IA.09, is sealed until 2040.