Post by The Fulbright Program

The most important documents in American history are protected by paper made by a Fulbrighter. 📜🇺🇸 Tim Barrett grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan — once known as America’s “Paper City.” In 1975, he received a Fulbright award to study traditional papermaking in Japan, and built a career dedicated to preserving this intricate art form. Decades later, the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration contacted Barrett when the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence needed new archival encasements. As the director of the University of Iowa center for the book , Barrett led a team that hand-crafted specialized paper to protect the fragile parchment for generations to come. Thanks to Barrett’s work, the “Charters of Freedom” were returned to public display on September 17, 2003. As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Barrett's work highlights Fulbright’s role in advancing technical craftsmanship and innovation in preserving our Nation's story. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eV56pW2n #Fulbright #Freedom250 #IndependenceDay #FourthofJuly 📸 1: Tim Barrett at the University of Iowa's Center for the Book. Photo: University of Iowa. 2. Tim Barrett Speaking to Students in the Papermaking Classroom. Photo: Tim Barrett Collection, University of Iowa Special Collections 3. Tim Barrett and colleague Lynn Amlie with the first completed encasement, circa 2000, National Archives Rotunda. Photo: National Archives.