Store Photo Document For Free

Use an archival-quality box or album Whether you prefer to stack photos in a box or arrange them in an album, it's best to look for a storage option that's free of acid and lignin (an acidic compound that gives trees their rigidity). It's also good to avoid dyes and recycled materials. That rules out shoeboxes.

Use an archival-quality box or album It's also good to avoid dyes and recycled materials. That rules out shoeboxes. Instead, consider Archival Methods's Short Top Boxes?they are stackable and made from boxboard, and they come in several sizes.

Store items out of damp basements, garages, and hot attics. Keep items away from sources of leaks and floods, such as pipes, windows, or known roof leaks. Store items on a shelf so they don't get wet. Store items away from food and water which are attractive to insects and rodents.

Use preservation-quality folders and boxes that are large enough to fully enclose and support the photographs. Avoid using acidic cardboard shoe boxes! Photographs in poor condition or that have special value can be individually stored in stable plastic sleeves made from preservation-quality polyester or polyethylene.

In most cases, taking the chronological approach makes the most sense. Depending on the number of photos you have, you may want to organize by decade then break it down into years. The advantage of sorting chronologically is that it will be easier to find duplicate images, which you can then discard.

Archive boxes will provide your photos an acid-free home and protect them from sunlight and exposure. Including an index card with each photo will give your collection historical relevance, and a climate-controlled storage unit will protect your collection from damaging changes in temperature and humidity.

These original wooden boxes are safe to use as long as they are sound and in good condition. Your plastic based photographs, such as negatives and slides, should always be stored in paper, for example, sleeves or four flaps. Plastic should not be used due to the concern over microenvironments.