Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Boards

Quick Search

Single word search

Tools

Findmypast DNA Banner

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

Preserving Old documents and letters

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Bruce

Bruce Report 14 Aug 2008 12:26

I have just taken possesion of some old documents (letters etc) that date back to the second wolrd war and before.
I will scan them to enable family members to share them
But my question is how should I preserve them.
My initial thought was to laminate them my thinking being eliminate the air and therefore preserve and protect
I am wondering what other Genes Members do or think

thanks
Bruce
Penrith, NSW, Australia

GlitterBaby

GlitterBaby Report 14 Aug 2008 12:42

Acid free wallets might be better.

Not usually a good idea to laminate.


See what other members suggest

Researching:
PLEASE DO NOT: send me information concerning your thread on the board as it should be posted on your request where all members can see it. PLEASE DO NOT: ask me for help with lookups as they should be placed on the boards to get the best possible result. PLEASE DO NOT: open your tree just because I have posted information on your thread as I will not be related. THANK YOU. Researching Carter, Cass and Walker in England. Researching Caven, McKill, Sutherland and Will in Scotland.

Ellen

Ellen Report 14 Aug 2008 13:48

however you store only use acid and lignum free otherwise they will eventually fall to peices, and take them out of storage only when absolutely neccessary
Copies for general use a good idea,

Mandy

nameslessone

nameslessone Report 14 Aug 2008 14:21

Plain old tissue paper won't do. You must get acid free - it is out there.

Bruce

Bruce Report 14 Aug 2008 20:54

Thanks for all your replies, anyone know where to get accid free in Australia?

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 14 Aug 2008 21:02

Don't know about Australia, but you can buy acid free pockets online from W.H. Smith here in the U.K.

Kath. x

Caz

Caz Report 15 Aug 2008 02:45

Hi Bruce,

try a crafts shop for acid and lignin free tissue paper, it is used by crafters for scrapbooking so any crafts outlet should have it.

Caz

Lisa J in California

Lisa J in California Report 15 Aug 2008 03:20

I use acid free "sheet protectors", "archival safe and acid free".

From a quick google search, it looks like you can purchase "sheet protectors" in Australian photography shops.

National Archives of Australia has suggestions of how to take care of old documents:
http://www.naa.gov.au/services/family-historians/looking-after/scrapbooking.aspx

It also looks like "Office Max" is located in Australia. I've purchased my sheet protectors from Office Max in California.