Thanks for Thanks for the the

Memories:Memories:

How to How to handle your handle your precious old precious old documents documents and photosand photos

What Causes PaperWhat Causes Paper Deterioration? Deterioration?

Sunlight & HeatSunlight & Heat

Acid/LigninAcid/Lignin HumidityHumidity

Sunlight & HeatSunlight & Heat High temperature High temperature

= faster chemical = faster chemical reactions and more reactions and more decay.decay.

Sunlight = faded Sunlight = faded paper, paper, discoloration, and discoloration, and difficult to read difficult to read documentsdocuments

Humidity ChallengesHumidity Challenges Humidity is Humidity is

trickytricky Too dry = brittle, Too dry = brittle,

falling apart falling apart paper.paper.

To moist = soft, To moist = soft, damp, perhaps damp, perhaps moldy papermoldy paper

Balance is best, Balance is best, but hard to attain.but hard to attain.

Acid and LigninAcid and Lignin Most paper is made Most paper is made

from wood pulp and from wood pulp and contains an acid contains an acid called lignin that called lignin that turns paper yellow.turns paper yellow.

Acid-free paper is Acid-free paper is available.available. Treated with calcium Treated with calcium

or magnesium or magnesium bicarbonatebicarbonate

Lasts 500-1000 Lasts 500-1000 years depending on years depending on quality.quality.

Other Factors that Harm Other Factors that Harm PaperPaper

Adhesive tapeAdhesive tape StaplesStaples GlueGlue PaperclipsPaperclips Ink pensInk pens LaminationLamination

Proper Storage Will Proper Storage Will Slow the DecaySlow the Decay

The more The more barriers between barriers between the paper and the paper and the environment, the environment, the better.the better.

A clean, dry, cool A clean, dry, cool storage storage environment is environment is bestbest

Getting StartedGetting Started Carefully assess the types Carefully assess the types

and qualities of the and qualities of the documents you have.documents you have. Plain paper or newsprint?Plain paper or newsprint? How much acid, humidity, How much acid, humidity,

and light damage has been and light damage has been done already? done already?

Is the paper brittle?Is the paper brittle? Are there staples, Are there staples,

paperclips, adhesive tapes, paperclips, adhesive tapes, or glues involved?or glues involved?

Step OneStep One

Best practices:Best practices: Paper needs to be Paper needs to be

flatflat Remove staples and Remove staples and

paperclips.paperclips. Open folded pagesOpen folded pages

Separate highly Separate highly acidic newsprint acidic newsprint from other papers.from other papers.

Step TwoStep Two

Brittle or often Brittle or often used documents used documents should be stored should be stored in Melinex plastic in Melinex plastic sleeves.sleeves.

These sleeves These sleeves come in varying come in varying thicknesses and thicknesses and sizes.sizes.

Step ThreeStep Three When possible, store When possible, store

objects of similar size objects of similar size and weight together and weight together to provide support.to provide support.

Place documents into Place documents into acid-free folders and acid-free folders and boxes.boxes.

Always label your Always label your folders and boxes for folders and boxes for easy retrieval!easy retrieval!

Recommended ToolsRecommended Tools

Family Archives KitFamily Archives Kit IncludesIncludes

Letter sized Letter sized document casedocument case

25 file folders25 file folders Archival Clippings Archival Clippings

EnvelopeEnvelope Disposable Cotton Disposable Cotton

GlovesGloves 6 box labels6 box labels

$22.25 plus S&H$22.25 plus S&H

Caring for Photos & SlidesCaring for Photos & Slides

Photos are:Photos are: FragileFragile Easily damagedEasily damaged Often stainedOften stained Occasionally Occasionally

distorteddistorted

If stored properly, If stored properly, damage can be damage can be slowed or avoided slowed or avoided altogether.altogether.

What Causes Photo & SlideWhat Causes Photo & SlideDeterioration?Deterioration?

LightLight DustDust Frequent handlingFrequent handling Air PollutantsAir Pollutants Fluctuations in Fluctuations in

temperaturetemperature Fluctuations in Fluctuations in

humidityhumidity Inherent chemical Inherent chemical

reactionsreactions

Getting StartedGetting Started Carefully assess the Carefully assess the

types of photos and types of photos and slides that you slides that you have.have. Black and white vs. Black and white vs.

color photos & slidescolor photos & slides These need to be These need to be

stored differentlystored differently How are the photos How are the photos

stored?stored? Are they loose?Are they loose? Are they glued into Are they glued into

an album?an album? Are they in an album Are they in an album

but free-floating?but free-floating?

Step OneStep One

If your photos are If your photos are glued into an album, glued into an album, do not attempt to do not attempt to remove them! This remove them! This will only damage the will only damage the photos. photos.

Instead, interleave Instead, interleave the album pages the album pages with acid-free paper with acid-free paper and store the album and store the album flat.flat.

Step TwoStep Two

Paper folders are a Paper folders are a good choice for good choice for storing photos.storing photos. They are opaque, They are opaque,

protecting from light, protecting from light, dust, moisture, and dust, moisture, and harmful gasses.harmful gasses.

Folders do not Folders do not provide good provide good protection when an protection when an item must be item must be removed for removed for handling. handling.

Step TwoStep Two When using folders, When using folders,

use unbuffered use unbuffered paper for:paper for: Color photos & Color photos &

negativesnegatives Cyanotypes Cyanotypes

(blueprints) (blueprints) Use buffered paper Use buffered paper

for:for: Nitrate and Nitrate and

cellulose acetate cellulose acetate filmfilm

Black & white Black & white photos & negativesphotos & negatives

Step ThreeStep Three

If the photo is fragile If the photo is fragile or will be handled or will be handled frequently, it should frequently, it should be stored in a plastic be stored in a plastic sleeve inside an sleeve inside an acid-free folder.acid-free folder.

This helps to This helps to stabilize the photo stabilize the photo and protect it from and protect it from the elements.the elements.

Three Types of Plastic Three Types of Plastic SleevesSleeves

Polyester (Melinex)Polyester (Melinex) Pros: Clear, smooth, Pros: Clear, smooth,

rigidrigid Cons: ExpensiveCons: Expensive

PolypropylenePolypropylene Pros: Clear, less Pros: Clear, less

expensiveexpensive Cons: Less rigidCons: Less rigid

PolyethylenePolyethylene Pros: CheapestPros: Cheapest Cons: Less rigid, Cons: Less rigid,

less clear.less clear.

Polypropylene Sleeves from Office Max

Step ThreeStep Three When possible, store When possible, store

objects of similar size objects of similar size and weight together and weight together to provide support.to provide support.

Place photos into Place photos into acid-free folders and acid-free folders and boxes.boxes.

Always label your Always label your folders and boxes for folders and boxes for easy retrieval!easy retrieval!

Remember!Remember!

Your goal as an Your goal as an archivistarchivist is to is to preserve your preserve your family’s memories.family’s memories.

Your goal as a Your goal as a preservationistpreservationist is is to ensure you don’t to ensure you don’t do anything that do anything that can’t be undone!can’t be undone!

Archival ResourcesArchival Resources www.gaylord.com www.gaylord.com

Use this resource to order the Guide to Collections Care Use this resource to order the Guide to Collections Care book and materials catalog for book and materials catalog for freefree. It’s also where you . It’s also where you can order the Family Archives Kit. Make sure you select can order the Family Archives Kit. Make sure you select the blue/gray one to get the quoted price.the blue/gray one to get the quoted price.

http://conservation-us.org/ http://conservation-us.org/ Another free resource, courtesy of the American Institute Another free resource, courtesy of the American Institute

of Conservation. Use the link on the left-hand side labeled of Conservation. Use the link on the left-hand side labeled “Resource Center” and the section “Conservation and “Resource Center” and the section “Conservation and You” which contains several practical guides for handling You” which contains several practical guides for handling everything from textiles to photos, paintings to home everything from textiles to photos, paintings to home videos. These materials are also printable in .pdf format.videos. These materials are also printable in .pdf format.

https://www.heritagepreservation.org/catalog/https://www.heritagepreservation.org/catalog/product.asp?intProdID=6 product.asp?intProdID=6 Published by the National Institute for Conservation, this Published by the National Institute for Conservation, this

book is for those who want more in depth information book is for those who want more in depth information than what is found in the Guide to Collections care book. than what is found in the Guide to Collections care book. It sells for $24.95 through the Heritage Preservation It sells for $24.95 through the Heritage Preservation website.website.

Questions?Questions?