How should I store family papers?
How to store family papers: the simple guide
Letters, photographs, certificates, diplomas, books: where to keep them, in what, and what to avoid so they last another century.
By Mégane Gimbret, conservator-restorer · 4 min read
Most of the damage I see at the studio could have been avoided by good storage. Here is the essential.
The enemies of paper
- Light: it yellows paper and fades inks. The damage cannot be undone.
- Damp and changes in temperature: mould, stains, distortion.
- Heat: it speeds up the chemical ageing of paper.
- Metal: paper clips, staples and pins rust and stain.
- The wrong materials: acidic folders and cardboard, PVC sleeves, rubber bands, tape.
Where to keep them
In a lived-in room, away from light: a cupboard or wardrobe against an inside wall. Not the cellar, not the attic, not against an outside wall, not near a radiator. Ideally: a steady temperature around 18 to 20 °C and moderate humidity, around 50%.
In what
- Acid-free conservation folders and boxes.
- Polyester or polypropylene sleeves if you want to see the document, never PVC.
- Flat rather than folded; gently unfold what can be unfolded.
- Remove paper clips and staples carefully, if they will not tear the sheet.
Good habits
- Handle with clean, dry hands, supporting the whole sheet.
- Annotate in pencil, never pen, on the back, along an edge.
- Digitise what you look at often, and put the original away.
Framing without harm
A framed document should sit in a conservation window mount, behind UV-filtering glazing, never touching the glass, and hang away from sunlight and radiators. See housing and framing.