You might not know what to do with old letters, diplomas, and family photos that a relative sent you. You might not know how to keep photos and other memories of your children in a good way.
Paper records should be kept away from things that could harm them, like constant exposure to light, temperatures that are too high or too low, or being touched directly. Inks can fade, but light damage can also make paper yellow, bleach, or get darker. This damage keeps getting worse and can’t be fixed. Make sure your hands are clean, dry, and there are no drafts when you are handling. Never put hand cream on after washing your hands. Slowly turn the pages. If something won’t turn, don’t force it or fold it back on itself. When you’re not using something, cover it or put it away to protect it from light. Keep the original boxes and/or envelopes so you can find them again. Don’t write on the documents, put tape on them, or use glue. We don’t recommend preventive chemical treatments to the general public. Instead, for long-term preservation, we recommend proper storage in proper containers in a good atmosphere with a constant relative humidity (RH) between 35 and 50%. (you can get inexpensive RH monitors almost any hardware or household store). Long-term storage of an object is best done inside a house, away from exterior walls and direct sources of light or humidity. This is because it has been shown that a stable storage environment is better than one that changes often. If you want to put the item on display, please see our suggestions for framing and putting things on display.
Before you open that shoebox full of letters, find a clean desk to put them on. Before you touch old letters, pictures, and papers, you should always wash your hands or put on a pair of nitrile gloves. Keep food and drink away from your old letters and other antiques because an accident could be very bad.
Your old and new letters and papers should be kept in a place that is cool, dry, dark, and free of water, light, and moisture. Even if they have been in the basement or attic for years, these are not the best places to keep old letters. This is because documents, prints, pictures, and other artifacts can be damaged by big changes in temperature and humidity.
Use pocket pages, clear bags, or acid-free envelopes to keep dust, moisture, and other harmful things from getting into your letters and papers. If they are in archival binder pages, you can keep them in fancy three-ring binders and slipcases. Boxes that don’t have acid and come in different sizes and colors are another option. You can also keep your letters safe in acid-free file folders or a kit that has everything you need to store documents.
How should old papers be put away?
Keep your papers in order. Documents should be laid flat and kept in a cool, dark place. Papers should always be kept in polyester film folders or alkaline containers that don’t contain acid (such as boxes, folders, or mats). Don’t keep your papers in a place that gets wet, like a bathroom, an attic, or a basement.
What do you do with old papers that belong to your family?
If the repository decides that your personal or family records are a good fit for their collection, you stand to gain a lot from giving them to them. A repository can keep an eye on how the assets are treated and how they are used. It can also store both physical and digital assets in a safe, climate-controlled way.
Where can I keep my ancestors’ papers?
Then it makes sense to store your family’s documents with the same service. There are many options for cloud storage. Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, and OneDrive are all great options that have already been mentioned.
What is the best way to keep old letters and papers safe?
Use pocket pages, clear bags, or acid-free envelopes to keep dust, moisture, and other harmful things from getting into your letters and papers. If they are in archival binder pages, you can keep them in fancy three-ring binders and slipcases.
Do old papers need to be laminated?
When you laminate a document, you put it through a process that involves extreme heat and pressure, which could destroy the document. Also, the ingredients used to laminate may be chemically unstable, which would speed up the paper’s breakdown.
How do I keep old pictures and papers from getting lost?
Its experts say that you should keep your prints and other materials in a cool place (about 73 degrees Fahrenheit or lower) with 30–40% relative humidity. The best places to store things are well-ventilated and don’t have a lot of pollution in the air.
How should I store the papers for my family?
Don’t try to smooth out fragile creases when storing papers flat. Try not to unroll photos or papers that are tightly rolled up. Put newspapers in folders or between sheets of acid-free paper to keep them safe. Use boxes that are big enough to hold your things without having to bend or fold them.
How are photos from 100 years ago kept safe?
Experts say that old photos should be handled carefully, kept in archival boxes, and never shown to the light.
Do I have to preserve my old letters?
Even if we don’t want to keep them, we can almost always find a good way to do so because they are important parts of history. If the letters are more recent and the person who sent them to you is still alive, you could give them back as a beautiful gift.
Where should you keep important papers?
The best way to keep important papers safe is to put them in a safe deposit box. Most banks and credit unions have safe deposit boxes you can use. If you already do business with the bank, you may also get a discount.
What kinds of papers can’t be laminated?
All official documents, like birth certificates, shouldn’t be laminated because it makes it harder to tell if a document is real and hurts the credibility of the act. All official documents and certificates should be kept in a separate file folder. Don’t laminate anything.