Photographs: Basic conservation and preservation

Old photographs are delicate and easily damaged. Many have been carelessly stored for years and will have suffered dog-eared corners, curling, wrinkles and spotting. Others will be in extremely good condition because they’ve been stored in albums in a dry cupboard. However, when the photographs arrive they are to be treated with care.
- Don't use Post-It notes (they leave an invisible sticky residue which collects dirt)
- Don't use Sellotape (it dries up and drops off over the years and leaves a sticky yellow strip behind)
- Don't write on them in pen
- Don't put your fingers on them (the natural acid from our skin gradually burns a perfect fingerprint in the photograph!)
(see also our page on care of old documents)

The ideal temperature for the storage of photographs is 15-25 centigrade (59-77 Farenheit) which is not too hard to achieve. The main thing is to keep the temperature as stable as possible.

Old photographs suffer easily from exposure to light. This can be daylight but it can also be the large blast of light from a scanner. There is a debate among museum academics as to whether old photographs should be scanned and so each project must make its own considered decision.

At St Levan we decided that by careful handling and scanning, a stable copy of the photographs could be created. The original then could go back to its owner, if required, while a copy was made for posterity and archived. The bonus with scanning is that, through software such as Photoshop, it’s possible to enhance an old photograph that has suffered damage, therefore giving a much clearer image than the original.

Handle photos carefully, preferably with lintless cotton or nylon gloves but at least with very clean hands. Photographs should not be folded or left unprotected from dust and direct light. Large photos, maps and prints should never be rolled but should be stored flat. Never use sticky tape, staples or paper clips on them. Never consume food or drink anywhere near them. If glass-plate negatives are loaned handle them with extreme care.
If there is the cash available to buy some acid-free archive envelopes or storage sleeves then do so.
Ensure that there is a method of identifying each photo and who is in it but NEVER write on the back in pen. If the photos have been scanned then it’s easy to make a paper copy and write the information on that.

Preserving photographs means that future generations can enjoy them and learn from them.

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