7. Collecting and Preserving Photograph Collections
Typical materials that cause deterioration in photographs:
Sulfur-based chemicals and materials including
Rubber cement
Rubber bands
Sulfite and kraft papers
Industrial pollutants
Chlorine-based chemicals and materials including
Polyvinyl chloride plastics
Cleaners and commercial cleaning solutions
Sweat and perspiration salts transferred through finger oils
Oxidizing gases and chemicals including
Ozone from xerox machines
Industrial pollutants
Ammonia (from household cleaners, etc.)
Cellulose nitrate photographs
Oil based paints
Floor varnishes
Wood and other materials with lignin
Organic acids and basic chemicals and materials including
Wood and other materials with lignin
Sulfite and kraft papers
Glassine
Cardboard and unprocessed paper products
Pressure—sensitive tapes
Iron based metal products including
Paper clips
Resources: Information on care of photograph and film Collections
Books
An Ounce of Preservation: A Guide to the Care of Papers and Photographs, Craig Tuttle, 1994
Storage Guide for Color Photographic Materials, James Reilly, 1998
Preserving Your Family Photographs: How to care for your family photographs, Maureen A. Taylor, 2010
Uncovering Your Ancestry through Family Photographs, Maureen A. Taylor, 2000
Disaster Recovery: Salvaging Photograph Collections, Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (booklet) https://ccaha.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2018-07/technical-bulletin-salvaging-photographs.original.pdf
Websites
How to Preserve Family Papers & Photographs, National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/preservation/family-archives or https://www.archives.gov/preservation/formats#photos
Personal Archiving: Preserving Your Digital Memories, Library of Congress, http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/personalarchiving/photos.html
Preservation publications, Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/preserv/
Preservation leaflets, Northeast Document Conservation Center, http://www.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets.list.php
Washington State Film Preservation Manual: Low-Cost and No-Cost Suggestions To Care For Your Film (movies)
Archival Storage Supplies
(paper, envelopes, negative sleeves, boxes, etc.)
Metal Edge‐Hollinger, 800‐862‐2228 or 800‐634‐0491, www.hollingermetaledge.com
Gaylord Brothers Archival Solutions, 800-962-9580, gaylordbros@email.gaylord.com and www.gaylord.com
University Products, 800-638-1912, https://www.universityproducts.com/
Custom Labwork
Moonphoto, digital and darkroom, 206‐783‐3377, www.moonphotolab.com
Panda Lab, digital and darkroom, 206‐285‐7091, www.pandalab.com
Art & Soul, high resolution scanning and color carbon printing, 206‐297‐1223, www.colorcarbonprint.com
Production Quality Scanning and/or Labwork
ScanCafe, online vendor of production digital services, 1‐866‐234‐3909, www.scancafe.com
iMemories, film and video tape to DVD, www.imemories.com
Professional Conservators
Lisa Duncan, Art Conservator LLC, Seattle, lisaduncan.artconservator@gmail.com, www.lisaduncanllc.com
Chicago Albumen Works, 174 Front St, Housatonic, MA, 01236, 413‐274‐690, www.albumenworks.com