preserving your family papers barbara austen florence s. marcy crofut archivist connecticut...
TRANSCRIPT
Preserving your family papers
Barbara AustenFlorence S. Marcy Crofut Archivist
Connecticut Historical Society
Overwhelmed?
Priority #1, the environment
Environmental threats to your family papers
• Temperature and humidity• Sunlight• Bugs
• Heat and humidity = Mold
• Heat that comes in many forms
More environmental threats
• Dirt• Food and drink• The atmosphere
Common items to avoid
• Cellophane tape• Paper clips• Rubber bands
What you can do to preserve your family history:
Step 1
• Remove letters and documents from envelopes and flatten
Step 2
• Remove surface dirt– Document cleaning
pads– Polymer erasers– Vulcanized rubber
sponge
Step 3
• Place documents in appropriately sized acid free folders
Step 4
• Place folders in appropriately sized boxes
Step 5
• Keep everything in one central location
Step 6Make an inventory
• What items are in which folders
• What are the dates of the documents
• Which family members are represented
• How did you acquire the documents
Step 7Enjoy!