... learn how to preserve your old photographs and documents!
Here are some hints that might help you out, as genealogically old photographs are a "Godsend"! (Well, at least your Web Site Editor thinks so.)
WHAT NOT TO DO ...
1) Do not ever use those "magnetic albums" to store photographs old or new ... Even though they are inexpensive and are frequently on sale, they will eventually ruin your photos beyond repair -- well, beyond "inexpensive repair". Those lines?? They will bleed right through the photographs. It may take years and years, but, believe me, it will happen!
2) DO NOT WRITE ON THE SURFACE OF A PHOTOGRAPH -- EVER! Ink, yes, even graphite from a pencil, can eventually bleed through from one side to the other. IF you feel you must write something on the back -- names, dates, place ... DO IT IN A CORNER where, if it does bleed through, it won't spoil one of the images.
3) DO NOT "STICK" anything on a photograph -- EVER! The GLUE will eventually bleed through! This includes "scotch tape" or any other type of adhesive. It may "look all right" for a while, even for many years, but SOME DAY you will be sorry. And if not you, your descendants will be very sad ...
THIS INCLUDES LAMINATING ANYTHING, too!! Even though the "full story" isn't "in" yet about laminating, it is, after all, a double whammy of a glue!
SO WHAT TO DO THEN???
1) When storing photos, use "archival plastic". It's a little more expensive, but it will save your photos for future generations. A "general rule of thumb" is that if the plastic sheets in the album do not smell, it's probably O.K. IF there is any sign or hint of a chemical odor, DO NOT USE!
2) When storing documents, also look for "archival plastic or paper" folders. Again, even archival paper folders or boxes or albums are more expensive, but the material you want to store will last longer. You know those old, yellowed, "holey" newspaper articles? Or pages in an old book? They nearly fall apart ... You don't want that to happen to your things.
3) There are sprays you can use to slow down any further decal on old documents. I use WEI T'O Spray #10. It "deacidifies and protects documents, prints, books, and works of art from embrittlement and yellowing". It is manufactured by:
Wei T'o Associates, Inc
P.O. Box 40
Matteson, IL 60443
Sometimes you can find a display at a genealogical conference dealing with this subject. I have bought mine from displays at conferences "manned" by The PRESERVATION EMPORIUM.
They were bought out by Heritage Quest a few years ago. 1-800-442-2038
THERE IS HELP ON THE INTERNET, too! A company in Portland, Maine has a "home page" that you might be interested in. Black and White -- their "home page" includes several graphic images and samples of enhancements and restorations as well as: Prices for the services, information about their lecture series, a history of their organization, suggestions for safely shipping irreplaceable photographs, preservation tips, a listing of current events AND OTHER RELATED PAGES TO VISIT!!
Or, do you want to contact this company by E*Mail ?
Do you want to return to the C.F.A. Table of Contents instead?
OR ... do you want to contact your Web Site Editor now?
AND ... before you leave, have you signed our GUEST BOOK yet?
