Although the Preservation Librarian position was created in 1981, the Newberry Library had employed a conservation administrator since 1964, when the soon to be named Technical Department was formed under Paul Banks. As the Library's first conservation administrator, Banks supervised binding, photoduplication, printing, and conservation until 1970 when the department was disbanded. In 1975, Banks took charge of the new Conservation Department, including the Conservation and Bindery Sections. Bank's position, vacated in 1981, was filled by Bonnie Jo Cullison, Preservation Librarian (1981 1989), who as department head supervised the Conservation and Bindery Sections, and in 1983, the Photoduplication Section as well. Cullison was succeeded by Joan ten Hoor in 1990.

Includes conservation administrator's office files, departmental and section reports, and records of library temperature and humidity.