We take care of our Museum Collections very seriously. But collections care begins at home! From time to time, we will add tips on how to care for items you own.

July, 2019: Here are some ideas for taking care of your personal and family photographs!

Tips for Organizing and Storing Your Family Photos

•          Don’t try to do it all at once. This is a marathon project not a sprint.
•          Label photos with who is in the photo, where it was taken, the approximate date, and the event, if known.
•          Use only photo-specific pens, or pencils (on older paper-backed prints) to label photos.
•          Use large boxes or plastic totes to store the photographs while in-process so you can easily set them aside or pick them up as you have time and energy to work on them
•          Carefully remove photographs from old “sticky” style binders or from any photo albums with a strong plastic smell as these damage photos.
•          Sort out any photos that only have meaning to you and separate them from family photos meant to be passed on.
•          Sort out duplicate photos. Offer them to family members at your next gathering.
•          You don’t have to keep every photo. Feel empowered to only keep the best photos out of a batch of similar ones.
•          Use only acid-free albums, envelopes, or boxes meant for photographs for your sorted and labeled photos.
•          Store photos in the most climate-controlled part of your house. Keeping them from getting too warm, cold, or moist, will help them last the longest. 

---