Paper
*The bold, gray terms on this page are hyperlinks that will take you to the term's definition in our glossary.
Do not underestimate the power of nature. Acidity, light, and widely fluctuating temperature and humidity are the greatest threats to your family papers. Plan ahead. If you are creating a family tree or oral history, use safe, durable, acid-free materials.
See two short videos on preserving Newspapers and Drawings.
Taking Care of Drawings
Sue Bove, Paper Conservator, New York State Archives
Running Time: 2 minutes
File Size: 10 MB
Taking Care of Newspapers
Sue Bove, Paper Conservator, New York State Archives
Running Time: 1 minute
File Size: 5 MB
Use and Display
- Do not laminate special papers; the process can be harmful and cannot be easily undone.
- Consult a conservator before using any commercial deacidification products.
- Avoid folding and unfolding papers; it weakens them. Place oversized items flat on larger pieces of acid-free mat board (also see “Matting & Framing”).
Storage
- Store paper items in darkness and ration their time in the light – especially their moments in the sun.
- Store loose papers unfolded in acid-free paper or stable plastic folders. Put fragile or torn documents in individual folders and keep the folders in acid-free (not wooden) boxes. Archival does not mean the same thing as acid-free.
- Highly acidic materials like newspaper clippings often become yellow and brittle quickly. Separate them from other papers and photocopy or scan and print the clippings onto acid-free paper.
- Bugs love glue and paper. Keep an eye out for creatures feasting on your precious papers.
Care
- Never use staples, rubber bands, tape, or glue on important papers.
- Consult a conservator if you find evidence of dirt or mold on prized papers.