威尼斯人娱乐场

New 威尼斯人娱乐场 Video Short Documents 1297 Magna Carta Encasement Project
Press Release 路 Thursday, February 2, 2012

Washington, DC

Magna Carta to Return to Public Display on February 17

The 威尼斯人娱乐场 is today releasing a short documentary video, 鈥淭he Encasement of Magna Carta.鈥� The video is part of the ongoing series Inside the Vaults, and can be viewed on the 威尼斯人娱乐场 YouTube channel: . The video shows the fascinating behind-the-scenes creation of the case which will display the 715-year-old document for the world鈥檚 viewing. The 1297 Magna Carta being encased is one of only four remaining 1297 originals. Magna Carta is said to have influenced early American settlers and been an inspiration for the Constitution of the United States.

Magna Carta is on loan to the 威尼斯人娱乐场 from its owner, philanthropist and co-founder of the Carlyle Group, David M. Rubenstein. Mr. Rubenstein underwrote the conservation treatment of the document and the fabrication of its new encasement. The encasement was designed by the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in cooperation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) who fabricated the encasement.

Mark Luce, director of fabrication services at NIST, Jay Brandenburg, project engineer and Charles Tilford, a physicist now retired from NIST, explain how the encasement was fabricated and assembled. Project manager Catherine Nicholson and supervisory conservator Terry Boone, both of the 威尼斯人娱乐场, discuss the conservation treatment and mounting of Magna Carta inside the encasement.

The encasement was machined at NIST out of two solid blocks of aluminum and sits on a unique cart designed to support the document on exhibit. The encasement is air tight and filled with humidified argon, an inert gas that unlike oxygen will not degrade the document. Elaborate instruments continuously monitor conditions within the encasement for humidity and evidence of leaks.

This is the second short documentary produced by the 威尼斯人娱乐场 about Magna Carta. The first, 鈥淭he Conservation Treatment of Magna Carta鈥� can be viewed at this link:

Background on 鈥淚nside the Vaults鈥�

鈥淚nside the Vaults鈥� is part of the ongoing effort by the 威尼斯人娱乐场 to make its collections, stories, and accomplishments more accessible to the public. 鈥淚nside the Vaults鈥� gives voice to Archives staff and users, highlights new and exciting finds at the Archives, and reports on complicated and technical subjects in easily understandable presentations. Earlier topics include the conservation of the original Declaration of Independence, the new Grace Tully collection of documents at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library, the transfer to the 威尼斯人娱乐场 of the Nuremberg Laws, and the launch of a new 威尼斯人娱乐场 user-friendly search engine. The film series is free to view and distribute on our YouTube channel at

Created by a former broadcast network news producer, the "Inside the Vaults" video shorts series presents 鈥渂ehind the scenes鈥� exclusives and offer surprising glimpses of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 treasures. These videos are in the public domain and not subject to any copyright restrictions. The 威尼斯人娱乐场 encourages the free distribution of them.

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For Press information, contact the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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