Preserving old photos and documents

[Owlie]

We've been digging through my grandmother's stuff that's still at our house, and we've found a number of old pictures and documents. What's the best way to keep and preserve them? The papers are concerning because they've been stored in envelopes and are folded. We'd like to make copies of the pictures at some point too.

Thoughts?

[channlluv]

I just bought a bunch of archival photo albums and sheet protectors in various sizes at the Container Store. You can flatten out the documents and store them in an 8x10 page protector with an archival backing sheet to keep them flat.

I'd suggest scanning the photos at a high resolution and making prints from those rather than copying the photos directly.

Roxy

[pll]

Be careful with what sheet protectors you use. If humidity gets in, it could ruin the documents. I'd go for archival boxes and archival paper, acid free.

There are several sites that provide tips. Here's one from the National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/preservation/holdings-maintenance/table-of-contents.html

[shootingstar]

It is worth spending some money on acid-free archival sheet protectors, envelopes, etc. Never use tape. None.

And also make good quality digital scans. That also is a form of preservation.
Insurance in case, the real stuff gets lost/destroyed accidentally.

[bmccasland]

Also write on the back with a non-ball point pen the names of the people in the photo, and where it's taken. Best to write on an area that isn't directly behind the faces in case there's pen leakage through.

You can find acid free archival paper at hobbie shops (like Michaels) that have scrap-book stuff.

[pll]

No, don't write on the original pictures! Scan and print a copy, write on the copy. Ink is somewhat greasy and it will eventually bleed through.

[shootingstar]

If you are forced to write on back of photo:

Use only soft lead pencil and do it in small corner. Otherwise don't bother. That's why you can digitize it.....and send images around to family.

I took a course on preservation of archival documents. We repaired a 16th century folio from a book.

Hmmm that was nearly 30 yrs. ago...when computer digitization of images was just coming on stream.

I did my library science degree and have had to deal with preservation issues for both paper and electronic for past few decades. (Remember CDs, DVDs tons stored on those media with no absolute guarantee 20 yrs. from now...)

[bmccasland]

Just be careful where you store your digital photos - I just lost years worth of digitalized photos because the internet company was bought out and I missed the email (due to change of address) to retrieve my photos by just a couple of months.

Another thought - my uncle, an avid photographer, used onion skin paper (very very thin) as an overlay, then labeled the people on it on top of their position.

Depends on the age of the photo, but I had some old ones (~70 yrs) that were mounted on heavier paper, so pencil lead or even pen ink wouldn't bleed through. Unfortunately they were lost in a flood.

[Koronin]

Hmmm, I'll add that to another reason to really consider getting that maters degree in history. There's a class dedicated to preserving papers and such for museums. Too bad the only University in the area that has the maters degree I would actually want to get is around a 2 hr drive away.

[shootingstar]

Just be careful where you store your digital photos - I just lost years worth of digitalized photos because the internet company was bought out and I missed the email (due to change of address) to retrieve my photos by just a couple of months.

Another thought - my uncle, an avid photographer, used onion skin paper (very very thin) as an overlay, then labeled the people on it on top of their position.

Depends on the age of the photo, but I had some old ones (~70 yrs) that were mounted on heavier paper, so pencil lead or even pen ink wouldn't bleed through. Unfortunately they were lost in a flood.

I know this dialogue will bore people but paper grade, quality, etc. is something I find fascinating (after I did do calligraphy and dabble in art).

Good advice Beth about not using a third party internet storage service for digital photos.

This sounds crazy to many people here right now, but even a persons' blogs is part of this whole personal digital asset consideration and what to do.

[pll]

This sounds crazy to many people here right now, but even a persons' blogs is part of this whole personal digital asset consideration and what to do.

I can imagine web sites and blogs are an archivist nightmare! I think of university archivists trying to keep up with whatever their faculty members do. At least with email and text messages, we can venture most of it might not be worth preserving: "LOL", "BRB", "r u there"....

[shootingstar]

LOL ;)

Even the TE forums here contain some valuable information related to women's cycling matters/issues. Seriously, think about some of the topics never yet discussed in any cycling magazine --yet.

Imagine, naming a Digital Executor for one's online accounts, digital assets:

http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/07/22/your-digital-assets-after-death/

But it is real problem when we may have online accounts to do stuff.

[Antaresia]

Just be careful where you store your digital photos - I just lost years worth of digitalized photos because the internet company was bought out and I missed the email (due to change of address) to retrieve my photos by just a couple of months.

So true. My mom made sure to burn CD's and send copies to everyone one, myself included (I'm on the other side of the country). Scanning is a great option, it took her more than a year of collecting all the family's photos. I think it was worth it and I'm glad she went through the trouble.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab17/Candoia/people/12.png

I love that one, it looks like I'm smirking at my sister's use of training wheels.