Document and Photo Preservation

Do you have a lot of old pictures or documents? Are you a genealogist? Do you hold photos that no one else has of your family? Taking your precious old documents and storing them folded in a box is not a good way to preserve them for future generations.

Are you the repository, for old information, in your family? If you have been successful in finding old documents and photos you need to go the extra mile now and get them preserved. You can spend a lot of money in this preservation process, or you can do things a little simpler. Either way you will be saving these original documents for future generations. If you are interested in the process keep in mind that you may be the only family member who is.

If you have come across old certificates that have been folded, open them very slowly and lay them down flat on a clean surface. Do not refold them. If any pieces fall off of the paper, do not tape them back on or throw them out, just leave them with the document. Take several pictures of it. If the paper is not so fragile, put it on a scanner and scan it into your computer. Make certain your hands are clean, or wear white cotton gloves when handling old paper. Contact a custom framer who knows how to preserve old documents. Framing is the best way to keep dust off and prevent mold from growing on the paper. You do not need to use expensive framing, it is the preservation that is important. The framer will use archival safe materials and seal the dust out.

Photos can be easy to scan if they are loose. If they are in a frame, once again take them to an archival framer. The photo may be stuck to the glass and removing it may damage the photo. Scan the photo along with the frame, and also take pictures of the photo prior to removing it. If you prefer to not reframe, be sure to keep this original in an archival box and store in a cool dark place.

Like any works of art, it is important to keep them out of direct sunlight. Hanging documents in a hallway is the best way to prevent damage from the sun. Preserving documents and photos may seem expensive, but it isn't going to get any cheaper. If you aren't willing to do it, it may not ever be done.