Preserving Paper and Photos | Augusta Museum of History
Source: http://www.augustamuseum.org/PreservingPaperandPhotos
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:24
Preserving Paper and Photos | Augusta Museum of History
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Preserving Paper and Photos
by Amanda Klaus, Registrar
The Augusta Museum of History cares for all forms of artifacts including furniture, clothing, archaeological collections, weapons, medical material, technology, rare books, maps, painting and prints, but the largest collection by far are the documents and photographs. The museum currently is responsible for hundreds of thousands of photographs and pieces of paper that each has special preservation needs. Because paper and photographs are the most fragile and vulnerable items in your home and are the most likely to be lost without the proper care, here are a few tips in maintaining your treasures.
ENVIRONMENT
Paper has a thin, flexible structure that makes it convenient for writing and printing but susceptible to tearing. Its cellulose structure makes it especially vulnerable to moisture, particularly in the form of high humidity or water vapor in the air. Humidity or dampness in the air will create an environment that allows mold and mildew to form. In addition to stains and discoloration to the paper itself mold and mildew is harmful to your personal health and should be handled with gloves and a protective mask.
It is also damaging to paper to be stored in an area without enough moisture. Paper needs a certain level of water to maintain its structure. If the paper gets too dry it will become very brittle, and break at the slightest touch. The ideal humidity level is between 40% and 50%. It is for this purpose that museums maintain safe environments at 70 degrees, 50% humidity at all times.
Photographs also need to be stored in temperature and humidity stable environments. Heat can warp and crack photographs as well as alter the color in newer images. Moisture in the air can cause the chemicals in photographs to adhere to anything they come in contact with. This includes a glass frame or other images stacked together.
Be aware like many other artifacts, paper and photographs will degrade when they come in contact with light. Whether it be direct sunlight, high florescent light or even continued photocopying and scanning, light exposure will cause severe fading. Light creates oxidation within ink, and the result will be the loss of images and text. Keep in mind that higher light levels usually correspond with higher temperatures which need to be closely monitored.
ACIDITY
Some of the earliest documents were printed on parchment or velum. These were created from the skins of mammals stretched thin. This was a slow and expensive process but the material proved very stable. This means that although the process was costly and few documents were printed in this way, many of them have survived due to their composition and relative stability. The first American paper mills produced paper that consisted of cotton and linen fiber (often in the form of rags) with no chemical additives. The paper that was produced was also of good quality and very stable. It was less likely to rip or tear and was better able to survive changes in temperature or humidity. The stability of velum, parchment, and early rag paper is the reason that so many important early American documents have survived.
Unfortunately, in the nineteenth century in America the Industrial Revolution dramatically changed the way that paper was made. The mass-produced, machine-made paper products were made of cheap wood pulp added to cotton and linen fibers. Wood pulp is naturally acidic and those chemicals led to the paper becoming very unstable. So although the method was cheaper, allowing more of the population access to printed material, it also had a much shorter life span. Modern paper has a protein called lignin that creates more acid as it ages. The acid in paper causes it to turn colors and become very brittle over time. The paper literally destroys itself from the inside out, a process that no preservation can truly stop.
So what can be done to save your treasures?
HANDLING
Due to the fragile nature of paper the most severe damage will happen during the handling of the artifacts. The best option for preserving both paper and photographs today is making a one-time scan or copy. Despite the exposure to the light from the copier or scanner, the copy can be used for display in your home or family research while preserving the original, which can safely be kept in storage. If a piece must be transported, it should be supported with a folder or a stiff paper board. The document should never be allowed to hang loose in the carriers hands.
STORAGE
All materials should be stored in closed, acid-free folders and boxes in order to protect them from dust and light. These can be purchased from archival supply stores. It is important to contain the acid in the paper itself and prevent it from migrating into other documents or photographs. All material used to join paper, such as paper clips, staples, brads, and needles should be removed. Over time these metal objects will rust and stain as well as breakdown the paper. Rubber bands should also be removed as they degrade and damage the paper over time.
Clear polyester sleeves are a great storage resource for photographs, they allow you to see the image and to scan through the plastic while keeping the image safe in a protective enclosure. A PH testing pen can show you if a folder or paper is acidic or not. Make a small mark on a corner of the paper and if the mark stays blue it is acid-free. Most printer paper today is acid-free and can be used between documents and photographs as a barrier.
As a final point, remember to store your boxes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and dust. It is better to store boxes off the ground due to the many ways in which water can accumulate. Just by raising the storage of boxes a few inches off the ground an entire collection could easily be saved from a disaster.
Preserving documents and photographs may seem like daunting but with advances in digital technology these important family mementos can be kept intact longer than ever before. Unfortunately unstable materials like newspapers, scrapbooks, and paper will not last forever but the information can be saved with digital scanning and the originals can be preserved longer with a protective environment.
For more information see:
CCI: Preserving My Heritage: How to Care for Paper Documents and Newspaper clippings. http://wwwpreservation.gc.ca/howto/articles/paper_e.asp Access Date: 09/16/2008
Library of Congress: Preserving Newspapers. http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/newspaper.html Access Date: 09/16/2008
The Permanence and Care of Color Photographs, Henry Wilhelm, Grinnell, Iowa: Preservation Publishing Company, 1993
Caring for Your Family Treasures: Heritage Preservation: A Concise Guide to Caring for Your Cherished Belongings, Jane S. Long and Richard S. Long, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2000
For Archival Supplies:
Gaylord Bros.
www.gaylord.com
The Hollinger Metal Edge
www.hollingermetaledge.com
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Sunday: 1PM - 5PM
Monday - Wednesday: Closed
Admission
$7 Adults | $6 Seniors | $5 Children
Free for Children Under Age 6
Contact Us
Augusta Museum of History
560 Reynolds Street
Augusta, Georgia 30901
Get Directions ›
Phone: 706.722.8454
Copyright © 2026
Augusta Museum of History
. All rights reserved.
Website Designed by
Powerserve
Visit
Exhibits
Programs and Events
Collections
Education
Private Rentals
Museum Shop
About Us
Hours:
Thurs - Sat 10am | Sun 1pm - 5pm | Mon - Wed CLOSED
Admission:
Free for Members | Adults: $7 | Seniors: $6 | Child 6-18: $5 (Children under 6 Free)
Broad Street Parking
ℹ
Membership
Donate
Visit
Directions
Admission & Hours
First Level Gallery Map
Second Level Gallery Map
Tours
Exhibits
Museum Exhibits
Signature Exhibitions
Baab's Bottles
Celebrating a Grand Tradition
Dyess
Medical
Local Legends
Protect and Serve
James Brown
Canteens
Augustas Story
Transportation
Railroad
WBBQ
Special Exhibitions
Past Exhibitions
Augusta, 1864
Delightful Decanter
Childs World
Glamorous Gowns
Tying the Knot
Online Exhibitions
Camp Hancock: WWI in Augusta
A History of the Georgia Railroad and Banking Comp
1797 Ezekiel Harris House
Programs and Events
Programs
Behind the Scenes
Brown Bag History Lecture Series
Curious Kids
Movies at the Museum
Music at the Museum
Time Detectives
Voices of the Past
Events
All Aboard! The Museum Express
Great Building Showdown
Holiday Gingerbread Village
2011 Holiday Gingerbread Village
2012 Holiday Gingerbread Village
2013 Holiday Gingerbread Village
2014 Holiday Gingerbread Village
2015 Holiday Gingerbread Village
2016 Holiday Gingerbread Village
2017 Holiday Gingerbread Village
Holiday Gingerbread Village Pictures
2018 Holiday Gingerbread Villa
2022 Holiday Gingerbread Village
2019 Holiday Gingerbread Village
2021 Holiday Gingerbread Village
2023 Holiday Gingerbread Village
Jimmie Dyess Symposium
Past Honorees
Juneteenth
Night at the Museum
Search All
Collections
Collection Categories
Archaeology
Fine Arts
Books & Published Works
Clothing & Textiles
Documents and Manuscripts
Maps & Blueprints
Media
Objects
Photographs & Postcards
Weapons
Collection Care Articles
Preserving Paper and Photos
Scanning and Access
Wedding Memories
Disasters
Education
Field Trips
Educational Programs
Hunt for History
Primary Source Program
Educational Resources
Teacher Resources
Curriculum
Homeschool Resources
Private Rentals
Weddings and Special Events
Garden City Room, Theater, and Activity Center
Museum Shop
About Us
Staff & Board of Trustees
Job Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
Contact
Past Museum Directors
Collection Categories
Collection Care Articles
Preserving Paper and Photos
Scanning and Access
Wedding Memories
Disasters
Preserving Paper and Photos
by Amanda Klaus, Registrar
The Augusta Museum of History cares for all forms of artifacts including furniture, clothing, archaeological collections, weapons, medical material, technology, rare books, maps, painting and prints, but the largest collection by far are the documents and photographs. The museum currently is responsible for hundreds of thousands of photographs and pieces of paper that each has special preservation needs. Because paper and photographs are the most fragile and vulnerable items in your home and are the most likely to be lost without the proper care, here are a few tips in maintaining your treasures.
ENVIRONMENT
Paper has a thin, flexible structure that makes it convenient for writing and printing but susceptible to tearing. Its cellulose structure makes it especially vulnerable to moisture, particularly in the form of high humidity or water vapor in the air. Humidity or dampness in the air will create an environment that allows mold and mildew to form. In addition to stains and discoloration to the paper itself mold and mildew is harmful to your personal health and should be handled with gloves and a protective mask.
It is also damaging to paper to be stored in an area without enough moisture. Paper needs a certain level of water to maintain its structure. If the paper gets too dry it will become very brittle, and break at the slightest touch. The ideal humidity level is between 40% and 50%. It is for this purpose that museums maintain safe environments at 70 degrees, 50% humidity at all times.
Photographs also need to be stored in temperature and humidity stable environments. Heat can warp and crack photographs as well as alter the color in newer images. Moisture in the air can cause the chemicals in photographs to adhere to anything they come in contact with. This includes a glass frame or other images stacked together.
Be aware like many other artifacts, paper and photographs will degrade when they come in contact with light. Whether it be direct sunlight, high florescent light or even continued photocopying and scanning, light exposure will cause severe fading. Light creates oxidation within ink, and the result will be the loss of images and text. Keep in mind that higher light levels usually correspond with higher temperatures which need to be closely monitored.
ACIDITY
Some of the earliest documents were printed on parchment or velum. These were created from the skins of mammals stretched thin. This was a slow and expensive process but the material proved very stable. This means that although the process was costly and few documents were printed in this way, many of them have survived due to their composition and relative stability. The first American paper mills produced paper that consisted of cotton and linen fiber (often in the form of rags) with no chemical additives. The paper that was produced was also of good quality and very stable. It was less likely to rip or tear and was better able to survive changes in temperature or humidity. The stability of velum, parchment, and early rag paper is the reason that so many important early American documents have survived.
Unfortunately, in the nineteenth century in America the Industrial Revolution dramatically changed the way that paper was made. The mass-produced, machine-made paper products were made of cheap wood pulp added to cotton and linen fibers. Wood pulp is naturally acidic and those chemicals led to the paper becoming very unstable. So although the method was cheaper, allowing more of the population access to printed material, it also had a much shorter life span. Modern paper has a protein called lignin that creates more acid as it ages. The acid in paper causes it to turn colors and become very brittle over time. The paper literally destroys itself from the inside out, a process that no preservation can truly stop.
So what can be done to save your treasures?
HANDLING
Due to the fragile nature of paper the most severe damage will happen during the handling of the artifacts. The best option for preserving both paper and photographs today is making a one-time scan or copy. Despite the exposure to the light from the copier or scanner, the copy can be used for display in your home or family research while preserving the original, which can safely be kept in storage. If a piece must be transported, it should be supported with a folder or a stiff paper board. The document should never be allowed to hang loose in the carriers hands.
STORAGE
All materials should be stored in closed, acid-free folders and boxes in order to protect them from dust and light. These can be purchased from archival supply stores. It is important to contain the acid in the paper itself and prevent it from migrating into other documents or photographs. All material used to join paper, such as paper clips, staples, brads, and needles should be removed. Over time these metal objects will rust and stain as well as breakdown the paper. Rubber bands should also be removed as they degrade and damage the paper over time.
Clear polyester sleeves are a great storage resource for photographs, they allow you to see the image and to scan through the plastic while keeping the image safe in a protective enclosure. A PH testing pen can show you if a folder or paper is acidic or not. Make a small mark on a corner of the paper and if the mark stays blue it is acid-free. Most printer paper today is acid-free and can be used between documents and photographs as a barrier.
As a final point, remember to store your boxes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and dust. It is better to store boxes off the ground due to the many ways in which water can accumulate. Just by raising the storage of boxes a few inches off the ground an entire collection could easily be saved from a disaster.
Preserving documents and photographs may seem like daunting but with advances in digital technology these important family mementos can be kept intact longer than ever before. Unfortunately unstable materials like newspapers, scrapbooks, and paper will not last forever but the information can be saved with digital scanning and the originals can be preserved longer with a protective environment.
For more information see:
CCI: Preserving My Heritage: How to Care for Paper Documents and Newspaper clippings. http://wwwpreservation.gc.ca/howto/articles/paper_e.asp Access Date: 09/16/2008
Library of Congress: Preserving Newspapers. http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/newspaper.html Access Date: 09/16/2008
The Permanence and Care of Color Photographs, Henry Wilhelm, Grinnell, Iowa: Preservation Publishing Company, 1993
Caring for Your Family Treasures: Heritage Preservation: A Concise Guide to Caring for Your Cherished Belongings, Jane S. Long and Richard S. Long, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2000
For Archival Supplies:
Gaylord Bros.
www.gaylord.com
The Hollinger Metal Edge
www.hollingermetaledge.com
Join Our Mailing List
Sign up for the Augusta Museum of History Newsletter and stay up-to-date with the latest news.
Learn More
Become a Member
Enrich your experience at the Augusta Museum of History with the benefits and privileges of membership.
Learn More
Donate Today
From supporting preservation of collections to presenting the areas history through exhibits and programs, your annual gift...
Learn More
Connect with us
YouTube
Quick Links
Museum Tours
Directions
Staff & Board
Become a Member
Become a Volunteer
Donate
Museum Hours
Thursday - Saturday: 10AM - 5PM
Sunday: 1PM - 5PM
Monday - Wednesday: Closed
Admission
$7 Adults | $6 Seniors | $5 Children
Free for Children Under Age 6
Contact Us
Augusta Museum of History
560 Reynolds Street
Augusta, Georgia 30901
Get Directions ›
Phone: 706.722.8454
Copyright © 2026
Augusta Museum of History
. All rights reserved.
Website Designed by
Powerserve
Visit
Exhibits
Programs and Events
Collections
Education
Private Rentals
Museum Shop
About Us