ALT-GENEALOGY-L Archives

Archiver > ALT-GENEALOGY > 2004-10 > 1096637891


From: "Hugh Watkins" <>
Subject: Re: Preserving large document
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2004 13:38:11 -0000
References: <415cfbcc.15534267@netnews.comcast.net>


"Carole Allen" <> wrote in message
news:...
> My nephew has a large item that he wishes to preserve. When his
> grandfather was in late stage cancer and could not sleep at night he
> would go to the kitchen and write words expressing his love for his
> wife. He appears to have used parchment paper (probably the kind you
> use for baking purposes, as it would have been handy in the kitchen).
> With age it has become more fragile, almost approaching tissue paper.
> It is large, at least 18 x 24 inches. For awhile after he died it was
> hung on a wall with tape, but more recently has been kept in a tube.
>
> We intend to try some photographs with my digital this weekend. (I
> have a sony P100.) We have Photoshop and my sister has access to a
> high end output machine in the print shop where she works. So we are
> confident we can preserve images of it, manipulate the image size and
> clarity, etc. We will likely reduce and frame one copy for his
> grandmother to have so she can hang it.
>
> My nephew's larger concern is preserving the actual item. I was
> thinking if we could get archival acid-free paper in large enough
> sheets, that the item could be "blanketed" in such sheets on both
> sides, then rolled and inserted into an archival tube. I see
> unbuffered tubes on the net for sale, but don't see the paper in large
> sheets.
>
> My nephew wanted to laminate the thing, as he has access to a large
> size cold press laminator at his college, but the item is so fragile I
> would be concerned that it would wrinkle or even tear in the rollers
> of the laminator. Also, I don't think lamination is a very good
> medium for preservation long-term. So for now he is holding off on
> that idea.
>
> Suggestions?

mount it on acid free paper
get professional advice form an archivist as to what paste
keep it flat and covered with acid free tissue papper in an acid free folder

the plastic will destroy it long term

Hugh W


This thread: