The first thing to consider when preserving any type of collection is where you store it. Grossman recommends high-quality boxes. “There are many vendors that sell paper boxes. The best thing is to keep things in good quality paper boxes, folders, and then albums with various polyester film or Mylar sleeves. Having your collections in contact with safe materials is a really good thing.”
Photographs
“Silver gelatin photos (black and white), which are most of the photos people have are very stable,” says Grossman. “Color photos are another issue. Those are exceedingly light sensitive— fading depending on what year and what product. It is a real problem and they should not be exposed to ultraviolet radiation, which means daylight and just about anything else.”
Relative humidity is the single most important factor in preserving most photographic materials, especially black and white pictures. The best way to store photos is in an interior closet with a consistent temperature of around 68° and a relative humidity of between 30% to 40%.
For color photographs, temperature is the main factor in preventing deterioration. Store those in a cool environment of about 40°. Though the basement is probably the coolest place in the house, never store any photographs (or other paper valuables) in a basement or attic due to the fluctuating temperature and humidity levels of those spaces.
Professional photographic storage facilities are one option, or, as Grossman recommends, “If you are preserving things that are important to you, save a lot of copies and refresh them periodically.” Consider making both duplicate prints and a digital CD of special photos.
Paper
Preserving paper mementos such as wedding invitations, newspaper clippings, maps, or drawings is a complex task due to the wide variation in paper quality, ink quality, etc. Store paper items flat rather then folded, in acid-free alkaline folders, polyester film folders, or alkaline mats.
Newspapers should be stored in a separate box from other paper or photographs because its high acid content could damage other items it touches. To safeguard the content of paper mementos, consider having good quality photocopies made.
Regardless of what it is you are trying to preserve, keep in mind that preservation shouldn’t interfere with enjoying your collection. Says Grossman, “There are no perfect conditions that can be achieved by anyone. What’s the purpose of saving these things if you’re not going to use them? We make recommendations so that people can turn the pages safely. We make recommendations for lighting conditions and temperature conditions. We want to preserve through safe access.”
The Library’s website offers a wealth of advice on how to preserve photos, newspaper clippings, antique books, and other items.
For specific questions not addressed on the website, they even offer a link where you can “Ask a Librarian.”
Another source of information on preservation is The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation in Washington, D.C. Their website is http://aic.stanford.edu.
To discuss this article, click here!