"PROTECT YOUR KEEPSAKES," PART 1--PHOTOS
By Karen Frisch 
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The following is the first of a five-part series that originally appeared in the
May/June 1999 issue of "Ancestry" Magazine (See today's product special at the
end of this newsletter to save on a subscription.).†Experts in different fields
of preservation offered their advice and practical tips on safeguarding
heirlooms. Your valuable papers, fading photos, crumbling textiles, worn and
ragged books, and other cherished treasures can be preserved with a little
attention and understanding. Look for the rest of this series in future editions
of the Ancestry Daily News. 

Now that you've combed your grandparents' house from attic to cellar, searched
every high shelf and dark corner, and amassed an impressive collection of old
photographs, what's next? 

Reward your hard work by taking appropriate steps to preserve your photos.
Regardless of their condition, photographs of your ancestors are unique
treasures and are often the only one of their kind in existence. Now that they
are seeing the light of day for the first time in many years, you'll want to
take steps to ensure they do not deteriorate further.

According to experts, the safest way to preserve photographs is to store the
originals and display copies. You can have negatives made from old photos,
allowing you to share your discoveries with relatives, or you can have copies
made digitally. Digital copies produce a quality likeness in both color and
clarity. Unframed photographs left to the ravages of time frequently suffer from
curled or broken edges, insect larvae, layers of dirt, and worse. Before putting
them away, clean photos gently with a brush or seek professional assistance for
seriously damaged pictures. Photographs of sentimental value can be restored,
scratches can be filled with oils, and curled edges can be pressed flat.

The safest methods of preservation are archival storage boxes with acid-free
sheets that separate photographs. You can also file individual prints in
polypropylene sleeves. Photos should always be stored flat to avoid curling or
accidental bending. A reputable photographic supply house or catalogue
specializing in historic preservation can help you find the solution appropriate
to your needs and the types of photographs you wish to preserve. 

Aging pictures need protection from enemies that include sunlight, heat, cold,
humidity, dust, and paint fumes. When you take originals out for viewing,
replace them immediately to avoid unintentional damage that can prove permanent
(like dropping a set of keys on a delicate print and cracking its surface). If
you are lucky enough to find negatives along with photos, preserve them
individually as well; they can be developed as a special gift for relatives in
the future.

Some people enjoy the vagaries of age that original photographs contain. If
you'd rather display your originals, they are safest under glass to protect
against dust and oily fingers. Keep them away from sunlight as well as indoor
light. If you wash the glass when framing a picture, make sure the surface is
dry before placing the photo inside.

When storing photos, find a secure place such as the top of a bookcase or mantel
where they are out of harm's way and the reach of children. Avoid locations near
a kitchen or bathroom where harmful odors and chemical solvents may cause
damage. 

It is worth taking similar steps for modern photographs. Don't make the mistake
your ancestors made. Label your photos in pencil with the subject, date, and
location so decades from now your great-grandchildren will not need to play the
guessing game also. Protect them from sunlight to avoid fading and
discoloration. Albums with photo pockets are best for easy removal and
preservation of prints. To safeguard photos, store negatives separate from
prints-in a safe deposit box or another house, for example. Using a loose-leaf
notebook, label them promptly to avoid unnecessary handling.

These protective measures will increase the likelihood of your photographs
surviving for many years. Remember, the reason most old photos survived in such
good condition is that they were protected over time, either in albums or in
boxes, where they remained until you found them.
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With a background in Victorian studies, teaching, and art, Karen Frisch has
traced her lineage back thirty generations. Her interest in genealogy began in
childhood when her grandmother gave her a collection of old photographs from
Scotland.