Joan Acocella's essay,"Queen of Crime", about Agatha Christie and the modern murder mystery in the August 16 and 23, 2010 issue of The New Yorker repeats the well known fact that, while Christie was married to the archaeologist Max Mallowan, she went with him on digs to Iraq and Syria. What may not be as well known was, as Acocella states: "At most of these outposts... she (Christie) was also given reponsible jobs to do, removing dirt from the relics (she used facial cleanser) and photographing them."
This activity, while potentially of concern in the choice of materials used, would make her the most famous 20th century "conservator".