Remove Photos from Old Albums
Take your photos out of “magnetic” or peel-and-stick albums. The materials they are made of—usually ordinary plastic, glue, and cardboard—will damage photos over time. If you do decide to use a commercially available photo album, look for one labeled “acid-free.” A visit to a hobby shop or photo supply store may be to find the safest type of album. Remove any glue, tape, staples, rubber bands, and paper clips that might stain, scratch or dent photographs before placing them in an acid-free album, storage box, or frame.
Label Old Photos Carefully
Be sure to label the back of a photo gently with a permanent marker. Include as much information as possible including the names and ages of those in the photo along with where the photograph was taken. This will help those who might inherit your photographs years from now to identify them. Do not use a ballpoint pen to write on the back of photographs. The pressure of the pen may not only damage the photo, but the ink will very likely fade over time and your labeling efforts will be lost to future generations.
Storing Old Photos
To store photographs individually, place them in plastic sleeves void of PVC. These can be purchased at photo supply stores and some craft stores. Plastic sandwich bags are a good, inexpensive alternative to plastic sleeves if special supplies do not fit into your budget. Store large quantities of photos by layering them between sheets of acid-free paper in metal or cardboard boxes marked acid-free. Large photo archive boxes can be easily stacked in a cabinet or closet, or even slid under a bed if storage space is at a premium. A good rule of thumb is storing photos where you are also comfortable: not too hot, cold, wet, or dry. Keep photos out of attics, garages, and basements where they’ll be subject to extreme temperature fluctuations and excessive humidity.
Framing Your Old Photos
When framing, use acid-free mats to keep photos from touching the glass and acid-free backboards to avoid deterioration of the image. If you are having a photograph professionally framed, be sure to tell the framer you want acid-free materials. These will be a bit more expensive, so a framer may not use them automatically. If you are framing a precious photograph, consider having it duplicated before placing it under glass just in case it fades over time while on display. Or, frame the copy and keep the original away from light to preserve it.
