The conservator's nose smelled inkjet - did they make it in time?

A conservator smells fresh inkjet on a vault folio and realizes six 400-year-old charts have been swapped - did they make it in time? The conservator's nose smelled inkjet - did they make it in time? In this episode, we follow the first hours of an investigation into missing navigational charts from the Harwick Regional Archive after a conservator detects a scent that shouldn't be there. The story traces the procedural gaps and precise timing that turned a subtle clue into the key question: who had the minutes to pull this off? Person: Renata Marsh Date: June 6-9 Location: Harwick Regional Archive, Crestfield, Ohio Event: Six original charts reported missing, six inkjet reproductions left in vault Investigator: Dana White - A construction operator named Rogers unearthed one missing chart in a trench twelve miles east of the archive on the morning of June 9. - The archive’s vault required a staff key card and a second-factor code reset every 90 days, with a hand movement log cross-checked against a digital system each Friday. - Renata Marsh, senior conservator for eleven years, noticed a faint petroleum-like fuser smell on June 6 and refused to open the folio. - By noon June 6 the director confirmed six originals were gone and replaced by high-quality inkjet reproductions housed in archival-grade materials. - Investigator Dana White prioritized finding the precise window of opportunity, noting the replacements were prepared in advance and the originals were already missing before anyone knew to check. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].