Scan all your documents so that you also have an image in your computer as visuals of your precious documents. These are only substitutes, but they can be used as reference points when you need to read the old documents. The more often you open your old documents, the greater the chances of their deterioration.
Old photographs are among the most difficult things to preserve. Once again, these need to be placed within acid free scrapbooks or archival boxes in which you can place them in a methodical, date-wise order. Albums are a good means of keeping photographs in a good condition, but do not use the ones which have plastic pockets.
The best way to preserve documents is by placing each document within acid free paper, and then placing it within envelopes which are made for archival purposes. These are easy to find in good stationery stores. Archival papers are also available, but these are much more expensive and should be used only for larger documents.
Lignin-free paper made from paper-pulp, acid free and un-buffered paper should be used to cover the old papers and preserve them from light and weather changes. Do not use rubber bands or staples, do not leave finger-prints on the paper, since these will secrete oils and cause damage some years down the line.
Do not place the documents within plastic folders unless they are made of polyethylene or polyester. The present-day plastic folders are made of PVC and over the years they will damage the documents by secreting hydrochloric acid. Lamination is also not a good option, because the chemicals used during lamination can spoil the documents over the long-term.
Place old paper on coated metal shelves. Wooden shelves are not recommended since over the years they harbour insects and release harmful vapours. The temperature of the room should be between 18c and 20c and the humidity levels should not be above 40%. The lights should not be too strong and fluorescent tubes with low ultra-violet levels should be used.
In our home all of us have old letters and photographs which we would love to preserve for future generations. These are our memories and dreams in the written or photographed form and all of us would like to leave behind visual and textual confirmation of our lives.
Paper is one of the most brittle and perishable of all materials and it is not easy to preserve it for posterity. We need to take extra care of our precious documents in order to make them last for many years. It requires a little bit of effort on our parts, but historians will thank us for having made the effort.
Documents are also very sensitive to moisture and light. Attics and basements are the wrong places to keep documents which you would like to preserve. The high levels of humidity in these rooms will spoil the documents and will also make them expand or contract, thus adding to their deterioration.
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