A description of the stabilization of degraded paper by graft polymerization using gamma radiation. The authors argue that the most common methods of treating degraded paper by deacidification do nothing to strengthen paper. Using graft polymerization to modify cellulose, the tensile strength, fold endurance, and resistance to acids can be enhanced by reaction with acrylic monomers. There were four papers tested: modern cotton (filter paper), modern mechanical, aged cotton, and aged mechanical. Paper or books were placed in a reaction vessel into which vaporized monomers were introduced. After equilibration, samples were placed in a cobalt-60 source and irradiated at 30, 000 rad/hr at 5-40°C. The total dose of gamma rays was about 0.48 Mrad. It was found that doses of 2.0 Mrad and higher cause radiation damage to cellulose. Inhibitors present in the materials, or formed during the aging process, were neutralized with comonomers, such as 5:1 ethyl acrylate (EA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA), which produced good yields of polymers with all modern papers and 90% of aged papers. The best results were obtained using monomer mixtures giving copolymers with glass transition points between 0 and 10°C. The choice of monomers should be based on the paper/polymer matrix being strong and flexible. Amine groups of low molecular weight tend to evaporate too quickly to have any lasting buffering effect, and promote color-forming oxidative reactions. A mixture of EA and MMA with an small quantity of basic comonomers such as 2- dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate was effective in neutralizing acid present in the paper. By using a similar process, it has been possible to treat whole closed volumes without blocking or sticking being observed; however, some plastic covers tended to soften.