Family photos are the entry point into family history for many people. Keeping them safe is so important! I sat down and talked with Denise Levenick, The Family Curator, for her tips on how to preserve family photos.
Note: if the video doesn’t play in the post, you can view it on YouTube.
How to Preserve Family Photos – Highlights:
Keep your photos out of the elements, so that they don’t curl, fade, or crack.
Use photos sleeves the same size as the photo.
Look for archival plastic, marked as PAT. Mylar and polyester are also safe.
100% rag paper can also be used as a photo sleeve.
Why a soft pencil and a light touch are all you need to label photos.
The best way to display a photo is to not display it. (Watch for Denise’s safe way to do it.)
Why you may or may not want to take a photo out of the holder from the photography studio – and how you can keep the photo safe in either case.
Resources Mentioned:
Denise Levenick’s blog TheFamilyCurator.com
Denise’s book How to Archive Family Photos: A Step-by-Step Guide to Organize and Share Your Photos Digitally (published by Family Tree Books, 2015). Available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle, as well as through other book dealers.
PAT approved plastic photo sleeves, mylar sleeves, or Melinex sleeves, available in numerous onlline archival supply companies as well as some office supply stores.
100% rag paper, available in many office supply stores.
(Note: the links to Denise’s book are Amazon affiliate links, meaning that Amazon pays me a little bit when someone purchases through those.)
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