A Genealogist’s Guide to Archival Supplies

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A Genealogist’s Guide to Archival Supplies

Many genealogists quickly discover they have become family archivists as well as family researchers. Word spreads like wildfire when relatives learn we are happy to take the old photo albums and loose papers cluttering their garage. Soon, more pictures, documents, and artifacts are likely to come our way.

With the right tools and supplies at hand, organizing and preserving family treasures doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Extend your genealogy toolbox to include basic archival supplies and know-how, and you will be ready to confidently care for the next family treasure that comes your way.

In a recent issue of Family Tree Magazine, writer Denise May Levenick shared expert tips to help you select and use the proper archival materials for photos, newspapers, artifacts and more.

Here's a preview of what our readers found

so useful in the article!

Archival Terms to Know

Archivists use a basic vocabulary to describe the preservation-quality supplies used in their work. Make these terms part of your Archivist’s Toolbox to help you easily select the best containers to store your family materials.

Acid refers to the pH of a product, often paper or heavy-weight paperboard. 

Acid migration occurs when high-acid materials, such as newsprint, come into contact with other items and cause brown stains or a change in colors. 

Acid-free, true “archival” products are free of wood-pulp and other organic materials that can damage paper, photos, and artifacts. These products have a pH of 7.0 or more and have been made from non-wood pulp products or been treated to neutralize any acid.

Lignin-free or low-lignin items are free or limited amounts of lignin, an organic substance that can cause acid to form in storage containers over time.

Buffered archival paper has been treated to neutralize the potential build-up of acid over time. The most common buffering agents are calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate.

Photographic Activity Test (PAT) is a standardized test to determine how photo storage materials interact with photographs. Polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene are chemically inert plastics and acceptable for sleeves and enclosures. Any plastic containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is not recommended.

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My Essential Archival Tools

White cotton or nitrile disposable gloves: Keep a pair of gloves handy to wear whenever you are working with photos, film, or negatives to avoid leaving fingerprints. Gloves are also essential when handling textiles and old paper to avoid leaving oils from your hands.

No. 2 pencil: Use a soft lead pencil when working with documents to avoid leaving unintentional ink marks. Write captions lightly on the reverse side of photos printed on paper or board.

Micron acid-free pen: Snapshots often have a glossy back that resists pencil; use a scrapbooking acid-free pen instead.

Micro-spatula: This small metal tool helps turn fragile pages, remove sticky wax from magnetic photo albums, and carefully lift photos off album pages.

Polypropylene label holders: Self-adhesive pockets hold slip-in cards to label document cases, binders, and archive boxes.

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Expert Archiving Tips

• Use storage containers and materials manufactured to be archival quality, acid-free, and lignin-free.
• Avoid recycled products. These contain unknown materials.
• Use known plastics labeled “archival” or “P.A.T. Approved.”
• Purchase from reputable companies that supply libraries, archives, and universities.
• Use the best-fit archival container for your items.
• Archival containers are interchangeable. A shoebox-size “photo box” can also be used to store a pair of baby shoes wrapped in acid-free tissue.
• Improvise when necessary, but always place your artifact so the contact surface is the best available archival material. Store a small photo album inside an acid-free folder if an acid-free box is unavailable.
• Maximize your storage space by selecting one or two sizes when purchasing archival boxes and document cases. Uniform sizes can fit on the same shelf and use one-size labels.

What do you think of these tips so far?

There's certainly a lot to consider when gathering archival tools and supplies to protect your records and photographs. The team at Family Tree Magazine has faced the same preservation challenges wants to help you on your research journey. That's why they publish articles like these that have a practical purpose in today's research landscape.

If you found these tips helpful and want to explore similar articles, you can get insightful articles like this delivered to your door! Consider signing up for a print subscription to Family Tree Magazine. You can learn with us each month and support our employee-owned small business.

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