Archival Preservation
A very short course on preserving your family papers.
For 12 years I was the Curator of Collections at the Smoky Hill Museum, Salina, KS. During my tenure there, the museum was accredited by the American Association of Museums.These are some of the methods I used to protect the museum's archival collections.
- Humidify the document, if appropriate. No artwork, please! (See method below.)
- Unfold documents and remove staples, paper clips, and pins (any metal).
- Store papers in acid-free, lignin-free folders, no more that 6 papers to a folder, interleaved with tissue.
- Store fragile papers in a polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene envelope. ( "Sheet protectors" are suitable if made of above listed materials.)
- Store photographs in acid-free, lignin-free envelopes or polyester enclosures.
Store folders and envelopes in an archival storage box. Stuff with tissue to keep folders upright or store box flat.
- Store box in climate-controlled area, not in attics or basements.
How to Humidify and Flatten Paper
You will need:
· one 9x13 inch cake pan
· one cake rack larger than 9x13
· one airtight storage container larger than the cake rack
· one cup of distilled water
· the document
- Place pan in container.
- Add one cup distilled water.
- Place rack on top of pan.
- Place document on rack.
- Place lid on container.
- Ignore for 8 hours.
- Check document. If limp, you may gently unfold or unroll. If not limp or cool to touch, replace lid for another 8 hours.
- Place between 2 white blotters or 2 large white cotton terry towels.
- Place heavy weights, such as books, on top evenly.
- Let dry 24 hours. Check and change blotters or towels as needed and repeat.
- Store appropriately.
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