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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?
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OBJECTIVESPreservation 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
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 www.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets/7Conservation_Procedures/08RemovalOfFastener
How Should Objects Be Stored? • On shelves • Off the floor • Protective enclosures - folders and boxes • Labeled
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 516 - Polyethylene and polypropylene okay if no plasticizers used • When not to use! Pencil, charcoal, friable media due to static properties on plastic
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 www.conservation-us.org • Regional Alliance for Preservation www.rap-arcc.org
Disaster Preparedness • Security • Fire protection • Natural disasters • Insurance • Salvage
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 • www.heritagepreservation.org • Council of State Archivists • www.statearchivists.or/prepare
Other Issues • Appraisal www.loc.gov/preserv/appraiserref.html • Donating http://www.archivists.org/publications/donating-familyrecs.asp • Organizing and documenting treasures www.mnhs.org/people/mngg/stories/orgpapers.htm www.netnebraska.org/extras/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.
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 • E-mails • Store safely • How to embed photo metadata http://www.photometadata.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, 3/5/2005 http://calpreservation.org/services/programs.html#saving_family • Preserving Family Collections: A Workshop Manual. Clement Bautista and Gina Vergara-Bautista, 2008 http://efilarchives.org/pdf/Preservation_Manual2-2_web.pdf