Melissa Allen

Conservator

Email: malle22@clemson.edu

Education:
2022, Master of Art Conservation, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON; Specialization in the Artifacts Treatment Stream
2020, University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts and Science, Toronto, ON; Additional coursework in Chemistry and Microbiology
2018, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Concordia University, Montreal, QC; Major Art History and Studio Art

Responsibilities:
Melissa first joined the WLCC in March of 2023 as a Kress Fellow. She is now part of our team of conservators responsible for the conservation and preservation of the H. L. Hunley submarine and its associated artifacts, as well as the assessment, documentation, treatment and research of a variety of other WLCC’s contracts. Melissa completed her Master of Art Conservation at Queen’s University with a specialization in the treatment of artifacts and has worked on a wide variety of artwork and artifacts in both the public and private sectors.

Research Interest:
Melissa’s current research focuses on the treatment of waterlogged organic artifacts, specifically the reconstruction of leather shoes and the treatment of waterlogged wood. She is also exploring the problems associated with digital preservation of longstanding projects.

Conference Presentations:
Allen, Melissa. 2024. Reconstruction of the Leather Shoes of the H.L. Hunley Submarine. American Ceramic Society Pan American Ceramics Congress and Ferroelectrics Meeting of Americas. Panama City, Panama, April 7th – 11th 2024.

Allen, M., Bednarski, S., Kim, E., Le Clair, J., Longo, C., Moore, A., Mappin-Kasirer, A., and Shaghaghi, P.. 2023. Environments of Change: Digitization of Historic Sites and Artifacts for Heritage Repositories, Educational Video Games and Virtual Reality Tourism Apps. American Institute for Conservators Annual Meeting. Jacksonville, FL, May 16th – 20th 2023.

Allen, M., Nelson-Delong, N. and Rivera-Diaz, J.. 2023. Reconstruction of the Leather Shoes of the Civil War Submarine, H.L. Hunley. ICON Archaeology Group Save our Skins Conference. Virtual. June 27, 2023.

Allen, M., Longo, C. and Mappin-Kasirer, A. A. 2023. Condition Assessment and Digital Scanning of Artefacts at Bader College Visitors Centre, Queen’s University (Canada), Bader College, East Sussex (UK). CAC -ACCR Emerging Conservator Symposium. Virtual. October 22nd, 2022.

Allen, M., Creamer, M. and Kim, E.. 2022. The Development of Tear Repair Techniques for Birch Bark Bitings. Canadian Association for Conservation Annual Conference. Hamilton, On, May 26th – 28th 2022.

Allen, Melissa. 2022. Comparing Coatings in the Conservation of 3-D Printed, Magnesia-Based Cement Sculpture. ANAGPIC Conference. Virtual, April 7th – 9th 2022.

Poster Presentations:
Allen, Melissa. 2024. Step by Step: The Reconstruction of Waterlogged Leather Shoes. American Institute for Conservators Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT, May 21st – 24th 2024.

Publications:
Allen, M., Creamer, M. and Kim, E.. 2023. Tear Repair of an Angelique Merasty Birch Bark Biting. Journal of the Canadian Association for Conservation 47.

Professional Affiliations:
Canadian Association for Conservators, Member