Your newspaper storage area should be between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (or between 15 and 21 degree Celsius). Humidity should be between 40 and 50 percent. Keep the area clean. Handling delicate newspapers that you want to preserve requires a lot of care and extra precautions. This means washing your hands before touching the newspapers to remove any possibly damaging residue on your hands. You should also have a clean workspace – like a big, clean table – to use while handing the newspapers. [1] X Trustworthy Source Library of Congress Official library of the U.S. and main research institution for Congress and the American public Go to source

Genealogist’s Guide to Archival Supplies A Genealogist’s Guide to Archival Supplies

Use storage containers and materials manufactured to be archival quality, acid-free, and lignin-free. These POLYESTER NEWSPAPER SLEEVES are made from 4mil archival polyester that has been approved by the Library of Congress for long-term storage. We use DuPont inert Melinex® or a suitable equivalent. This material has passed the Photo Activity Test (P.A.T.) which means thatthis material willnot cause deterioration or harm to items stored in it. When newspapers are valued as artifacts, preservation requires a stable environment: 60-70 degrees F.; 40-50% relative humidity (RH); protection from light; and storage in non damaging materials. Newspapers should be stored flat, protected within a rigid box or folder. Special newspaper size boxes and enclosures are available from conservation suppliers. Added protection may be provided by interleaving the newsprint with thin sheets of alkaline buffered tissue, also available from conservation suppliers. Never laminate or use pressure sensitive mending tape on papers you want to preserve. If papers need to be relaxed or tears repaired, seek conservation services from a qualified professional. See: Where can I get conservation help? and How can I get some important documents that I own repaired?With the right tools and supplies at hand, organizing and preserving family treasures doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Extend your genealogy toolbox to include basic archival supplies and know-how, and you will be ready to confidently care for the next family treasure that comes your way. How does the Smithsonian Institution Archives determine which records to keep and which to discard? Use a copy of the newspaper for display. If you want to display your newspaper, consider using a printed photocopy for the actual display instead of the original. A photocopy, even one made on standard printing paper, will hold up better over time as it is exposed to the light and other elements. The national professional association for conservators, the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) , maintains an online directory for finding a conservator by specialty and geographic location and provides information on how to choose a conservator. In addition, AIC also offers guidelines for the care of collections beyond library materials. A cool (room temperature or below), relatively dry (about 35% relative humidity), clean, and stable environment (avoid attics, basements, and other locations with high risk of leaks and environmental extremes)

Sleeves | Archival Methods | Acid-Free Sleeves Archival Sleeves | Archival Methods | Acid-Free Sleeves

Preserve newspapers for future generations in our storage boxes & folders made from the finest acid-free materials. Individual folders allow you to group & personalize events. Fade proof marker included for permanent notations. Harriman, Robert B., with Doris Hamburg; ed. by Carole Zimmermann and Carrie Beyer. Preserving Newspapers. Preservation Leaflet, no. 5. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Preservation Directorate, 1995.Photographic Activity Test (PAT) is a standardized test to determine how photo storage materials interact with photographs. It is used mostly with plastic storage sleeves and containers. Polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene are chemically inert plastics and acceptable for sleeves and enclosures. Any plastic containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is not recommended. Consider weight as well as size when selecting containers. Archival materials are heavier than average cardboard, and large documents cases can become very heavy when filled with acid-free file folders and documents. Quilts, military uniforms, and wedding dresses are bulky and heavy. Use this large, lightweight archival box to preserve heirloom textiles. The acid-free box is made from corrugated E-flute board and is a better choice than storing inside a wooden drawer or cedar chest where acidic wood can damage the fabric. The kit includes white cotton gloves to wear when handling textiles and acid-free tissue to layer folds and cushion sleeves. Before storing, have the item professionally dry cleaned by a local company experienced with vintage textiles. My Essential Archival Tools

I preserve an important edition of a newspaper? How can I preserve an important edition of a newspaper?

Archival containers are interchangeable. A shoebox-size “photo box” can also be used to store a pair of baby shoes wrapped in acid-free tissue. Reformatting options include preservation photocopying, preservation microfilming , and digitization. For institutions, for which access is usually a primary objective, digitization of newspapers usually means digitizing newspaper microfilm. For personal newspaper collections and newspaper clippings, digitization following digitization guidelines used for manuscripts and similar cultural heritage materials makes more sense. Place the newspaper in a shallow, rigid box. You want to protect the newspaper from air, light, and pests. Newspaper-specific storage boxes are available from conservation suppliers and most craft stores; however, a simple cardboard or wooden box will do as long as it is acid-free. [6] X Research source Newspapers from the mid-19th century onwards are printed on inexpensive, machine-made, wood pulp paper that is not manufactured for longevity. Due to the inherent chemical instabilities of such low-quality wood pulp papers, these newspapers are inherently acidic. Good storage is especially critical to the preservation of acidic papers, but the following guidelines apply to all newspapers, including those from before the mid-19th century, which are printed on better quality paper:Avoid folding the newspaper. When handling newspapers that you intend to preserve, try to never fold them except on their original middle crease. Keep the edges aligned neatly so that the center fold remains intact and other portions of the newspaper don’t get folded inadvertently. [2] X Research source Store your Newspapers and Tabloids in our POLY BAGS and protect them from dust, dirt, finger oils and other airborne pollutants. We manufacture sleeves to store newspaper either folded in half or flat. Polyethylene negative preservers organize and protect film from fingerprints and dust. Sheets are available for various size negatives, either punched for binders or unpunched for storing inside an acid-free folder or box. Remember to wear gloves when handling film. Label negatives with date, names, or events along the edge using an acid-free micron pen. 9. Slide and Media Boxes If you think you have a historic and rare American newspaper, it is worth looking up to see if has been microfilmed or digitized through the Historic American Newspapers collection 1836-1922 at the Library of Congress, or look to see if it is listed in the 1690-1922 American Newspapers Directory, available through your local library.