Pamela Jary Rosser

Pamela Jary Rosser PA AIC, Conservator

Pam Jary Rosser is the Alamo Conservator and joined in 2010. She is the first full-time professional architectural conservator to continuously preserve and document the historic surfaces of the walls of the Alamo and Long Barrack for such a long time - over 10 years! As such, her knowledge of these buildings is unparalleled. Before joining Alamo Trust, Pam worked on conservation projects at the Alamo as an independent contractor. She has more than 30 years of experience in architectural conservation, specializing in Spanish Colonial wall art and structures, as well as objects and paintings.

As a conservator in private practice, Pam has worked with prestigious organizations such as the Moody Foundation and the National Park Service. Pam is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. She serves on the San Antonio World Heritage Advisory Committee. Pam is a 9th generation Texan and a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Experience

Alamo Conservator (2010-present): Pam has led or provided consultancy to all major conservation projects at the Alamo. Highlights include:

Conservation of 1700s historic plaster frescos, utilizing conservation assessment, cleaning, consolidation, pigment reintegration, hydraulic mortar injections, stone stabilization, edge stabilization, protimeter readings, identification mapping, photo and written documentation.
Drafting a catalog of the different types of interior mortars, Spanish colonial pigment, Spanish colonial plaster, US Army graffiti, limestone and efflorescence.
Development of a paint methodology which required thorough analysis and color matching to existing historic fresco pigment fragments.
Utilizing microscopic chemical testing to determine efflorescence, removal of modern plaster formula and historic pigment formulas.
Creation of the 2013 Preservation Plan which involved a team of five specialist firms to provide state of the art technology and analysis.
Coordination with Alamo staff and the District Attorney’s office on emergency conservation procedures when the exterior of the Alamo was vandalized in March 2012.
Developing a positive relationship with the Texas Historic Commission to ensure the appropriate preservation methods are being utilized at the Alamo as well as drafting all Alamo Antiquities Permits.
Collaboration with the Alamo’s Collections and Learning Teams to provide interesting preservation facts for Alamo visitors and staff.
Coordination with the current Alamo Preservation Team.
Developed, choreographed and led the installation of six larger than life-size bronze statues in Cavalry Courtyard.
Developed cannon conservation project with Texas A&M Conservation Research Lab. Coordinated installation and annual conservation maintenance of cannon and 16 pounder carriage reproduction.

Partner, Restoration Associates Limited (1990-2009): Before joining the Alamo, Pam provided conservation and restoration services as an architectural conservator for preservation projects valued to $30 million with a proven reputation for completing projects on time, at budget and to client satisfaction. Work included the discovery of the Spanish Colonial polychrome patterns in the Sacristy of the Alamo, Moody Mansion, Mission Concepcion, Empire Theatre, Aztec Theatre, San Fernando Cathedral and San Antonio City Council Chambers.

Professional Awards

Los Compadres, Volunteer of the Year: for her dedication, 1998

The Garden Club of America, Club Conservation Commendation: for her conservation of historic painted surfaces at The Alamo, May 2016

Publications and Presentations

Rosser, P. (2018), Analyzing Spanish colonial pigment utilizing sophisticated technology: the excitement and the obstacle in the discoveries, American Institute for Conservation Conference.

Rosser, P. (2018), Fresco Analysis at the Alamo. Confluence and Culture: 300 Years of San Antonio History, Witte Museum’s Tricenntenial Speakers Conference.

Rosser, P. Bushey, M. and Baltuskonis D. (2017), How does modern-day technology work together with the traditional techniques in making invisible Spanish Colonial wall art once again visible, Association of Preservation Technology Conference.

Rosser, P. (2016), If the Walls Could Talk, Texas General Land Office Saving Texas History Symposium.

Rosser, P. Bushey, M. and Baltuskonis D. (2016), Sophisticated Technology: Analyzing Pigments at the Alamo, Association for Preservation Technology Conference.

Rosser, P. (2015), Mission San Antonio de Valero; Spanish Colonial Frescoes, Western Association for Art Conservation Conference.

Rosser, P. Bushey, M. and Baltuskonis D. (2015), AIC Conference “It Takes a (technological) Village”: a marriage of traditional and modern conservation methodologies to reveal invisible 18th century Spanish Colonial frescoes found on the Sacristy walls in the Alamo.

Preserving Our Cultural Heritage, San Antonio Missions Preservation Workshop, Hands-on mortar workshop leader, May 2017, and May 2018