Center for Technology & Innovation, Inc., 321 Water Street, Binghamton, NY 13901,
Telephone: 607-723-8600 email: info@ctandi.org
Tips for saving your treasures and other stuff
Safeguard your family records by storing them in a clean, stable, and secure environment.
Keep paper and photographic records away from sunlight. Avoid high heat and relative humidity.
Avoid eating and drinking while working with old papers and photos. Crumbs attract insects, and wet paper encourages mold and mildew.
Use pencils to label items; 2H and HB are good. Avoid Sharpies and other alcohol containing markers, as the solvents bleed through photos and can destabilize data stored on CD-ROMs.
It is not a good idea to store documents in attics, where the seasonal temperature swings are great, or in basements if they are subject to flooding or damp. Strive for temperatures from 55-70° F and 30-50% relative humidity. Avoid relative humidity above 65%, as mold spores bloom in moist conditions. Keep boxes at least 2" from exterior walls to avoid condensation in the cardboard.
Ideally, records and artifacts should not be in contact with acid-containing materials. Storing documents in archival-quality folders and containers helps slow deterioration. For long-term paper storage, choose archival quality envelopes and folders that are acid-free, buffered and low in lignin content. Look for this information on product labels.
Store newspaper clippings separate from other documents, as the high acid levels in newsprint will harm nearby paper and photographs. Newspaper clippings may be scanned or photocopied on archival paper, and the originals stored separately or discarded.
Handle documents gently.
Unfold most paper for storage. Stiff and brittle documents should be left folded.
Remove all metal. Paperclips and staples will rust.
Remove all rubber bands. Rubber
turns brittle, sticks to paper, and outgases sulfur.
Never attempt to repair a document
with tape or glue. You may do more harm than good.
Carefully repair critical tears
with paper first aid tape on the reverse side; paper medical tape minimizes the adhesive
residue that can cause discoloration of paper and photographs.
Photographs should be stored in archival quality sleeves of paper or plastic. Photo mounting corners are another good option. Avoid “magnetic photo pages” and scrapbooking “embellishments.” Use chemically stable plastic-based products, such as polyester, in contact with film and photos. Folders and sleeves made of Mylar Type D or Melinex 516 are recommended. Never use products made of vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), often found in mass-market photograph albums. Use paper enclosures that are acid-free and un-buffered. If possible, materials should pass the Photograph Activity Test (PAT-ISO 14523:1999); check labels for this certification.
For more information, see:
Saving Stuff : How to Care for and Preserve Your Collectibles, Heirlooms, and Other Prized Possessions,
Don Williams and Louisa Jaggar, Fireside Publications, 2005. (available in local bookstores)
American Institute for Conservation
An Inventor’s Guide to the Preservation, Protection, and Donation of Personal Papers.
Lemelson Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
