By Penny Evans
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| Alan Jeffrey |
He explained that all the materials he uses to preserve books and manuscripts are archival. The materials are expensive as they are imported from USA. Two of the products used are Mylar and Melinex which are made by Du Pont.
He advised members not to use plastics that contain a plasticiser (gives off a smell). The gas that is emitted can penetrate the document and cause damage.
Lamination is not advisable.
Avoid finger prints on photographs which should never be glued down in photo albums. Corners should be used to secure photographs in albums and acid free paper used.
Newspaper cuttings are difficult to preserve as wood pulp is acidic and causes the paper to become brittle and eventually break down. These cuttings should be digitized to preserve them.
Newspapers can, in addition, be placed in an envelope and kept in a dark place.
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| In need of restoration |
Original photographs and paintings in frames deteriorate because of light. Wood used to frame these items is acid and this migrates into the photographs and paintings.
Artworks should be removed from frames and stored in a dark place with acid free backing.
Old Bibles should be stored flat in a dark place.
Medals should not be kept on felt which is also acidic but rather wrapped in polyester.
Marks on paper caused by water damage is expensive to remove.
Leather cannot be restored once it has deteriorated. One needs to be aware of the damage that fish moths can cause and to put out bait.
Members brought old items such as photographs, manuscripts, newspaper cuttings, Bibles and books. This interesting talk should make all of us reconsider how we store our historical items.
