Somewhere in that dusty attic, damp basement or chilly garage are boxes of precious photographs, paintings, family papers, baby books, christening gowns and home movies tucked away for safekeeping. You might think your heirlooms are fine where they are. The boxes are taped up, the kids can’t get to them, they’re not exposed to sunlight.
But Leah Davis Witherow, archivist at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, knows better. She shudders when she recalls the times she has descended into old basements and found boxes of mementos ruined by dampness, mice and bugs. By the time they’re discovered, the damage is irreversible.
“They are the link to your family’s past–your family memory. When people are gone, papers and photos live to tell the story, and every family has a unique story,” says Witherow.
Modern technology has provided improved means of preserving, restoring, converting and properly displaying or storing these irreplaceable items for generations to come. Video production companies can transfer home movies and slides to video. Photo restoration businesses use computers to fix damaged snapshots. CD-ROMs have become the newest method for storing photos, film and family documents.
Here are some suggestions from the experts for restoring and preserving family mementos:
Photos
Most photos are damaged by water or humidity, or from curling when stored in boxes.
– Take damaged photos to a professional restoration service.
– If pictures are framed under glass, clean the glass with a damp cloth or paper towel. Do not spray cleaner on the glass because it will run down to the bottom of the frame, seep under the glass and damage the picture.
– Do not stack weights on a picture to flatten it if it has curled. A dry, brittle picture will crack.
– Do not store pictures with newspaper clippings. In high-humidity areas, newsprint can stain the picture. Don’t mount pictures opposite clippings in a scrapbook so they touch when the album is closed.
– Only encase pictures in plastics such as mylar, Melinex or Estar, found at photo or hobby stores.
– It is important to record photo subjects, because years later there may be no one around to identify the people, place, time and occasion. However, don’t write on the face of the picture or use a ballpoint pen.
– Wash hands before handling photographs. Oil and salts on skin can damage the photos.
Home movies
Those old 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm home movies are good candidates for deterioration: Dampness can attack and ruin the emulsion on film. To avoid that, store the film and negatives in a cool dry place. Even if you’ve taken good care of your home movies, the chances of viewing them are becoming slimmer because projectors no longer are manufactured.
– Before getting movies transferred, check the boxes or canisters for dates to help make a record of the film and put them in proper chronological order.
– Get an older family member to view the film or video with you to help identify the people and places on it.
Books, textiles and art
– Always wash hands before handling or use cotton gloves.
– Wrap books and clothing in acid-free tissue and store in a dry place with a fairly constant temperature. Keep all items–books, clothing and art–free of dust, which is abrasive. A buildup of dust also can attract humidity.
– Make sure clothing and textiles are clean before storing them–bugs are attracted to dirt. Do not starch linens because starch also attracts insects.
– Check stored items every six months or so.
– Dry cleaning is not recommended for vintage textiles. Some items may be too fragile to clean. Consult an expert first.
– Do not hang artwork in direct sunlight or over a fireplace, where it will be exposed to soot, smoke and extreme heat.
