How to Preserve Old Photographs & Clippings

Use archival methods to preserve this picture.

As we move into the digital age, often we have our photos and other memories safely stored on our computer hard drives. But we also need to preserve photographs and newspaper clippings from a time before digital cameras and online newspapers. In order to best hold on to these special keepsakes, you will need to be bit more tender than with a photo memory card.

Things You'll Need

• Archival boxes
• Archival sheets
• Sealed containers
• Linen gloves

Instructions

1. Collect the photos and clippings that you would like to save. Now is a good time to use your linen gloves if you have them. Touching photos and clippings with your bare hands could damage them further, while the linen gloves will keep the photos and clippings in a much better state. Make sure to not have clippings touch other clippings or photos, as the acid from the newsprint can be harmful to the other items.

2. Look through your photos and clippings and decide how you would like them organized, which can depend on the nature of the collection. One option is chronological order, or you can arrange your materials by subject. Find a system that works for you, as you will be putting the clippings and photos away, and when you come back to them you will need a system in order to best find the photo or newspaper clipping you are looking for.

3. Find a cool dark place in which to keep your photos. Too much temperature change or sunlight will hurt them in the long run. Use your sealed containers to make sure the photos and clippings are in as much of a vacuum as possible. Also, the sealed containers will keep any moisture out. Any sort of wetness is a terrible thing for an old photo or clipping. You can also use the archival sheets to separate the photos and clippings from each other. These sheets are very thin and don't contain the harmful acids of other types of paper. If sealed containers aren't for you, you can make use of archival boxes. Like the archival sheets, these boxes don't contain acids and will preserve your photos and clippings much better than traditional boxes. Once you have boxed your items up, it is time to put them in a dark, temperature-controlled space where they will be safe from the sunlight and other harmful effects.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have linen gloves, make sure to hold the photos and clippings by the edges only.

• Archival boxes and sheets are vital, as they are acid-free and won't harm your photos and clippings over time the way normal cardboard will. The paper is thin, like tissue paper you use when wrapping a present. It is useful to place between photos and newspapers so as to keep any inks and acids from transferring between items. The boxes will often have internal metal strips to increase their strength.

• Storing your photos and clippings in the garage, basement or attic could harm them over time, as these places suffer the most temperature change and are typically vulnerable to moisture accumulation.

References

• Utah State History: Preserve Documents, Photos, and Heirlooms
• Minnesota Historical Society: Preserving Your Old Photos: Windows to the Past
• University Products: The Archival Company