Between the Sheets – A Day in the Life of a Conservator

How are centuries-old letters, maps, government records, photos and manuscripts preserved for researchers and government officers? Go behind the scenes for a rare peek into the world of preserving history, one fragile page at a time. Our conservator Chua Pei Shyuen will reveal some secrets from her work, from battling silverfish to treating damaged documents. Discover how science, art and detective work come together in unexpected ways, and why no two days in the conservation lab are ever the same.

About the Speaker

Chua Pei Shyuen is an Assistant Conservator in the Archives Conservation Lab (ACL) at the National Archives of Singapore (NAS). Her background in history and interest in material culture drew her to explore the field of conservation. What she enjoys most about conservation is that there's no one-size-fits-all approach, it is both challenging and intriguing and she plans to stay in the field for the long haul. In her spare time, she practises film photography and serves as devoted staff to three free-willed feline overlords.