Stains in Special Collections

December 12, 2017

The presentation about the Library of Stains project on December 13 prompts us to look at different sorts of stains in Special Collections — notably, stains within our chemistry holdings. These stains range from chemistry experiments gone awry to evident missteps in the dyeing process. In the latter category is this folder of samples from the Cassella Color Company. The samples themselves are still quite bright, but there is also clear evidence of spilled dye on the card stock.

Braid samples from the Cassella Color Company.
Dyeing instructions.

This example figures in a case of color samples in our new exhibit Print in Color, Color in Print. We hope you will come take a look at the works on display, and take advantage of the extensive holdings on color available for closer examination in our reading room