How do you care for archival materials at home?
If you have one-of-a-kind manuscripts, journals, and photographs in your home or office and want to make sure that you’re keeping them safe, here are five DIY tips for you, the at-home archivist. And remember, perfection isn’t necessary. Make the most out of what you’ve got.
Don’t reinvent the wheel on how your materials are organized
If your materials are disorganized, by all means arrange them. Putting related materials together can be helpful. In fact, the goal of archival arrangement is to foster insight by offering materials in context. So, if there already is some order, honour it. For example, keeping family photos organized by roll of film preserves their chronology and the story that is told by each roll.
1. Only make marks that are reversible
Are you labeling photographs or writing historical information on the back of a document? Use a pencil. Handwriting in pencil can be erased, as needed. Over time, pen ink can bleed and change colours, damaging archival materials. If you prefer ink for legibility, label the sleeve housing an item, not the item itself.
2. Keep items off the floor
Protect items from damage due to flooding by placing them on shelves, milk crates, filing cabinets, etc.
3. Keep original documents in acid-free containers
If you’re purchasing albums, containers, and sleeves for your materials, look for “acid-free” options. Suppliers like Carr McLean offer professional solutions. Not everyone wants to break the bank, though, so here is another cost-effective solution: standard printer paper is acid free and you can sandwich it between archival materials that might not be. Laying printer paper between archival items will eliminate the possibility of inks or adhesives on one item transferring onto another.
4. Lay items flat
If you have photographs that are rolled up or large-scale posters that are folded up, laying them flat will extend their lives. Why? Over time, creases and fold lines become a document’s weak points and are more likely to rip when an item is handled. Items that have been tightly rolled for extended periods can crack when unrolled if they are not treated with the right levels of intermittent humidity. So, materials and space permitting, try to lay these items flat to prevent damage.
5. Keep temperature and humidity levels stable
With humidity comes mold on paper and rust on paperclips. While it seems counter-intuitive to put items in cardboard boxes, instead of plastic containers that can keep out water, cardboard boxes offer important air flow. If you notice humidity levels are high, consider purchasing a dehumidifier to keep ‘humidity between a minimum of 30% and a maximum of 50%’ and a stable temperature ‘no higher than 21.1°C’ is also recommended (NEDCC). These levels may not be achievable, but be curious about which area of your home or office has the smallest fluctuation in temperature and humidity and see if you can store materials there.
