 Bencowitz's PhD in chemistry proved indispensable in the treatment of damaged books and documents.In addition to his formidable chemical and language skills, he was also skilled in industrial production, and was able to alter the methods in which the millions of books were handled to reduce production bottlenecks.Bencowitz told Lt. Leslie I. Poste, another Monuments man,
I would walk into the loose document room to take a look at the things there and found it impossible to tear myself away from the fascinating piles of letters, folders, and little personal bundles.