About Us

Ellis Conservation of Books & Paper, LLC. is a woman-owned small business established outside Washington, DC in Silver Spring, Maryland in 2009 by Janice Stagnitto Ellis, who is currently the Senior Paper Conservator at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. 

Ellis Conservation of Books & Paper is operated in the basement level of a private residence, a brick building which maintains both a security system direct-wired to an outside security company, and a fire system direct-wired to the municipal fire department. The fire station is less than a half mile from the facility and a fire hydrant is directly across the street. Both temperature and relative humidity are monitored around the clock, and an independent natural gas operated electrical generator ensures that the HVAC, dehumidification systems and preventive sump-pumps are operational even if there is a municipal power failure.

Artworks are stored in the uppermost drawers of powder coated enamel over-sized flat files fitted with security padlocks. All storage cabinets are elevated 6” above ground on wheeled platforms to facilitate housekeeping. The studio practices integrated pest managemet. All the lighting in the conservation studio is filtered for UV light.

The covered garage next to the studio functions as a loading dock to bring art objects directly into the studio. The studio entrance is through the garage.