"31 Days of Tips from The Archive Lady"
DAY #2
Cleaning Documents
Many
times the records that we have inherited are not in the best of shape.
Maybe they have not been stored properly. When we get them, they could
be dirty and need some tender loving care.
Cleaning
documents is something that archivists do almost on a daily basis. The
documents archivist encounter have been stored in basements, attics,
near old coal burning stoves or in dusty old garages. After an inventory
is done on the collection and the processing starts, the first step is
to clean each and every document.
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| Highway Department Records Stored by a Wood Stove |
Many
documents just have dust or dirt on them that can be easily brushed
away. I recommend using soft brushes to brush away any dust or dirt. I
often suggest that home archivists purchase large make-up brushes which
does the job quite well and they are very inexpensive. The goal is to
remove any loose dirt or dust that could be on the documents. Over time
this dust and dirt can damage documents, so it needs to be removed.
If
the documents have more ingrained grime, the next cleaning tool to use
to remove the grime is a dry cleaning sponge. This is a specific sponge
used in archives. Lightly rub the sponge over the document. The sponge
will pick up all the removable dirt and grime and will contain it in the
sponge. These sponges are used daily in the archives to clean all
manner of documents. WARNING: Do not use these sponges on writing that is in pencil. If
these sponges are used on documents with pencil writing, they will
erase the writing forever. These sponges can only be purchased from
archival materials companies or from Amazon.com.
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| Example of a Dry Cleaning Sponge |
Once
the documents have been cleaned, they can then be put into archival
safe sleeves and filed in archival safe boxes, filing cabinets or in a
3-ring binder.
If
you do not feel comfortable doing this process yourself, seek out a
records conservator to help you. Many of our state archives and
university archives have professional conservators on staff.
REMEMBER: IT'S NOT ALL ONLINE, CONTACT OR VISIT AN ARCHIVE TODAY!
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ReplyDeleteThanks for this entry. I've inherited several boxes of materials from different relatives over the years. Some have been stored in damp basements, garages and storage units which have encouraged mold and mildew. I've had to set up a work table in my garage to handle these files so I don't contaminate my house. With the garage door open and wearing a mask, I wipe each page with a draftsman brush and use a dirt eraser when needed. I even set up a scanner/copier in the garage to make digital copies. After handling, I put in protective sleeves. If pages are too contaminated to add to my "inside" research files, I leave in a storage tub in the garage with moisture control packets for later reference. But honestly, most of what's in those files are old outdated Family Group Sheets which are not worth saving and so they get purged after comparing to my own research. Thanks for your expert advice and ideas. They're all very helpful!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a treasure trove of records and you are taking really good care of them! Thank You for reading my blog.
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