Storing old photos

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Doctor J. Frink - 31 Jan 2006 01:15 GMT

Hullo,

The better half has tasked me with archiving some old family photos. By
old I mean late 19th century through to mid 20th. Scanning them isn't a
problem (apart from being time-consuming) but I'm concerned about long
term storage.

They are mostly loose atm, in a cardboard box. Some have previously been
glued to cardboard backing for display (since mostly ripped off in what
can only be called vandalism in my eyes). Is there any way of knowing if
this adhesive is going to damage them?

It was my intention to store them in an air-tight, opaque container,
somewhere cool. I also thought I might pop in a sachet of silica gel to
keep humidity down. Would that be good or bad for the photos (ie can it
be too dry)?

Cheers,
Frink

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Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail'
See his mind here : http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/
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Mark Dunn - 31 Jan 2006 09:09 GMT

If they're in reasonable condition now, they've survived a century which
isn't too bad. A stable temperature below about 70F is more important than a
low one, and if they're too dry they'll become brittle, so forget the
chemicals. Mine are kept in an old cardboard suitcase and the 1880's cartes
de visite are fine. I've put them in clearface bags (not archival) to
protect them physically. You could go for archival boxes and separate them
with tissue. Trying to get rid of the glue might be risky. Just protect them
from damp and extremes of temperature; the garage, maybe, or an unheated
room. Not the attic. And identify them properly now. Maybe there's a granny
who can help. I just used a soft, blunt pencil on the back.

> Hullo,
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Cheers,
> Frink

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Trev - 31 Jan 2006 16:25 GMT

> Hullo,
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> can only be called vandalism in my eyes). Is there any way of knowing if
> this adhesive is going to damage them?

If it has not by now I doubt it ever will. Its these modern paper card and
glue that contain acids and bleaches

> It was my intention to store them in an air-tight, opaque container,
> somewhere cool. I also thought I might pop in a sachet of silica gel to
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Cheers,
> Frink

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