Pass it On: Saving Heritage and Memories

OBJECTIVES Preservation is to save memories Review preservation strategies for public caring for their treasures Talk in detail about some objects Provide resources

Family Treasures What are family treasures? Why preserve them? What to preserve?

Deterioration Internal Vices + External Vices Object Composition Environment

Causes of Deterioration and Damage Environmental Conditions Storage Conditions Display Conditions Handling Dog chewed book Faded photograph

Environmental Conditions Temperature Humidity Light Pollutants Pests

Temperature + Humidity Promotes chemical reactions High temperature increases decay rate

Humidity Too dry is damaging Too humid is damaging Wild fluctuations is damaging Sensitive to humidity Organic materials and metals

Light Damage Cumulative Irreversible Fading, Color change, Brittle Sensitive to light Organic materials-paper, photographs, textiles, furniture, ivory

Dust and Air Pollution Dust Gaseous Housekeeping Sensitive to pollution Silver/metal tarnishes, corrodes Fibers breakdown in paper and textiles

Leather Deterioration Light Damage

Pests Termite damage Insects Rodents Sensitive Organic materials, Building structures

Storage Location Determine best place to store Dry, cool, stable environment Beware of attics, basements or garages Insects Rodents

How to Display Treasures Avoid heat sources Limit light exposure Install shades and close curtains Hang on interior walls Safe locations from bumping, hitting, unnecessary handling Use proper matting and frames UV filtering glazing

Safe Handling and Use Know your walking path and have a safe place to put down the object Two hands when needed Clean Hands No Lotion

Do No Harm Paper clips Rubber bands Tapes Sticky notes Glue To remove staples, clips edures/08RemovalOfFastener

What to Do?

How Should Objects Be Stored? On shelves Off the floor Protective enclosures - folders and boxes Labeled

Think Inside the Box

Storage Materials Durable Provide physical support Boxes closed without gaps Match size of object

Storage Materials Term Archival-Quality is Confusing Paper enclosures - Low-lignin or lignin- free - Buffered Use unbuffered papers for: blueprints, some art on paper, color photographs, textiles Photographs- papers passed Photographic Activity Test (PAT)

Storage Materials Preservation Grade Plastics - Brand name: Melinex Polyethylene and polypropylene okay if no plasticizers used When not to use! Pencil, charcoal, friable media due to static properties on plastic

Doll Storage, Textile Padded Hanger

Should I Do a Repair? DO NO HARM Home repairs? Control Yourself Self–adhesives tapes are not safe Stains – Learn to live with them Lamination – Just say no!

When to Call in the Experts? Severely damaged Valuable Poor framing Mold damaged Pest Infestation Read about how to select and find a conservator us.org us.org Regional Alliance for Preservation

Disaster Preparedness Security Fire protection Natural disasters Insurance Salvage

Safety first Assess damage Make a plan Start as soon as can Handle objects as little as possible Care in handling Call an expert Packing boxes

Disaster Resources Heritage Preservation Council of State Archivists

Other Issues Appraisal Donating familyrecs.asp Organizing and documenting treasures

Family Papers

Store - Folders, sleeves, boxes Separate newspapers Copy - Newspapers, frequently handled Display - Copies if possible Stable environment Low or no light Seldom fold or unfold Do not use: clips, rubber bands, tape, etc.

Before and After

Books Store - Flat, upright or spine down - Shelving or boxes Use wrappers sized to book Stable environment Low or no light Clean hands No head cap grabbing No sticky notes or tapes Dust properly

Photographs Store - Sleeves - -plastic or paper - Folders, boxes or albums Display - Limit time - Use a copy - UV filtering glazing Stable environment No light Use clean white cotton gloves Avoid adhesives Avoid overcrowding Photographic reproduction

Digital Images Back-up files Tag files Migrate and Save s Store safely How to embed photo metadata data.org/META- Tutorials

Textiles Store - Flat, rolled, hanging - Unbuffered tissue Display -Frame with UV glazing - Hanging system Stable environment Low or no light Pest prevention Cleaning ? Ask a conservator Regular inspection Handle without your jewelry on

Wedding Dress Clean prior to storage Determine dress condition Select dry cleaner Acid-free, lignin free tissue and box or Padded hanger if safe Stable environment No light

Wood Furniture Cleaning - Dusting - No waxes, oils, sprays Handling - Pick up at strongest place - Check weak areas Stable environment Low light Pest prevention Water spills Good quality wax for protective layer

Silver Storage - Wrap in tissue, place in Pacific soft flannel bag, then polyethylene bag Learn how to clean Silver is soft- subject to denting Pollution tarnishes Avoid too much polishing Use cotton gloves

Key Resources I would like to acknowledge the main resources used to develop this power point program. Hold on to the Memories: Saving Family Treasures. Prepared for the California Preservation Program and the Inland Empire Libraries Disaster Response Network by Sheryl Davis, 3/5/ mily Preserving Family Collections: A Workshop Manual. Clement Bautista and Gina Vergara-Bautista,