Physical Storage and Conservation

Proper storage of physical materials is critical to long-term preservation.

I connected with the Midwest Art Conservation Center (MACC) and their Preventative Conservation team, where I learned a lot about what they do. MACC works with museums, non-profits, organizations, and private clients on art conservation and restoration. I also got to learn about the basic preventative care measures they practice and teach through workshops and consultations.

Best practices include: 

● Storage Materials: Use acid-free, lignin-free, 100% cotton, or polyethylene/polyester/polypropylene enclosures. 

● Storage Methods: ○ Paper sleeves for rarely handled items; plastic sleeves for frequent use. 

○ UV-filtering acrylic for framed items; store away from sunlight. 

○ Use interleaving paper to separate and protect photos or documents. 

● Environmental Considerations: ○ Store materials in cool, dark, dry places and away from pests. 

○ Elevate storage to prevent water damage. 

○ Use silica gel or desiccant packets to manage humidity—something I incorporated into each box and enclosure. 

Document and Photo Storage Tips 

● Documents should be flattened, unstapled, and sorted by size and theme into acid-free folders and boxes. Limit exposure to light, and store newspapers separately due to their acidity. 

● For photographs, my approach was to organize by “eras,” defined by the homes my family lived in. This practical method allowed flexibility for later refinement. Storage materials included archival photo boxes, index cards, envelopes, tissue padding, and polyethylene sleeves. 

Tools, Materials, and Where to Find Them 

Archiving requires specialized supplies that can be found through reputable vendors or adapted from more affordable sources as long as the materials meet preservation standards. Essential tools and recommended vendors include: 

● Tools for Cleaning and Labeling: ○ Microfiber cloths, air puffers, craft spatulas, staple removers. 

○ Pigma Micron Pens (archival ink), Derwent Art Pencils, and Post-It notes. 

● Archival Vendors: ○ Gaylord Archival, Archival Methods, Hollinger Metal Edge, University Products, Lineco, Archival Products. 

○ General retailers like Blick Art Supplies and Michaels (for select archival items). 

● What I Purchased: ○ From Archival Methods: 3-sided polypropylene sleeves, photo kits, document boxes and spacers, side-loading sleeves, and cardstock. 

○ From Blick: Interleaving paper, poly sleeves, mounting boards, Pigma pens. 

○ From Michaels: Archival pens and boxes. 

○ I also reused silica gel packets based on recommendations from the Canadian Conservation Institute and Archival Methods’ Preservation Guide.