Preserving Your Family Photos

Have you looked at any of your old photo albums lately? Chances are, the photos are yellowed and weathered, looking as though they were sorely mishandled, even if you had placed them into the albums with care. There are ways to preserve your photographs, providing you use some simple techniques and safe materials. By following the tips outlined, your photos should last for your descendents.

The most important way to preserve your photos is to put them in a safe environment. Don't put them in a shoebox in the corner of a basement or attic. These locations may be havens for dust, damp, and extremes of temperature, all aspects of photo degradation. In fact, humidity and temperature may be the most important aspects to consider. The ideals of 68 degrees F and 30 - 40% humidity are easiest to find in enclosed areas, like air-conditioned rooms or inside closets. Deterioration is increased when high temperature and high humidity conditions exist.

Another factor to consider is light. Yellowing and fading can result when photos are in the presence of ultraviolet and visible light. Therefore, the experts recommend that photographs not be framed for display for long periods of time. If you must display them, use plastic or glass that filters ultraviolet light.

If you are determined to put your photographs into albums (and what better way to share and enjoy them?), be certain to use acid-free, lignin-free albums and papers. With the current scrapbooking rage, these materials are relatively easy to find. In fact, many of these lines include not only albums and papers, but die-cuts, stickers, and mats. In addition, there are numerous "heritage" products, which have a more sophisticated look, very suitable for displaying those historic family photographs. There are also acid-free storage boxes available to store the photos prior to placing them in frames or albums. Most craft stores carry these products.

If you have noticed your own photos showing signs of deterioration from poor storage or framing, you can rescue them from further damage. Carefully remove them from their current location. There are a couple of acid-free "un-glueing" products on the market that will help you to remove photos from stubbornly adhesive places. Once you have removed them, place them in an acid-free box for storage until you place them into an archival-type album or frame.

So get to work saving those family photos! The old adage that "a picture tells a thousand words" is a true one, but if your photos are yellowed and damaged, they will be missing several sentences. Photos are one of the best tools of the family historian, for they tell a story on their own. Save them!

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