Question: I have read the info you have written in your newsletter regarding photo preservation and UV protection and found it to be helpful. I would also like to know if could recommend a product that would serve as a good storage type media and still allow the photos to be easily viewed and handled without presenting any risk of damage or loss. The photos I am referring to were taken in the 1940’s.
Answer: The first thing I would do is make sure you have scanned these photos to prevent further loss or damage. If you don’t have your own scanner, most photo processing places have one that you can use to scan in your photos and burn them to a CD. As for a product to use to display these photos, I would use any photo album that is acid free. If the sleeves are not the size of your photo (I know a lot of older photos come in different sizes than albums now.) My favorites are those that look good on a coffee table. I have some of the leather ones from American Craft. They come in sizes like 9×9 or 12×12. Always make sure those precious photos are inside page protectors! That way people can view them and they won’t damage them.