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!