preserving family treasures

Preserving Family Treasures

LYRASIS Preservation ServicesFunded in part by a grant from the National Endowment

for Humanities, division of Preservation and Access.

LYRASIS Preservation Services

We offer:• Education and training: full-day workshops, live

online and self-paced classes.

• Information and referral: call us with your preservation questions!

• Loan services: we have environmental monitoring equipment available for loan.

• Publications: all types of preservation publications, downloadable for free.

• Disaster assistance: We are available 24/7 to assist you.

• Consulting: personalized assistance for your specific preservation needs.

• http://bit.ly/LYRPresHome

Welcome• This short class is intended to

introduce participants to preserving family treasures and will cover the following topics:– What are family treasures?– Why materials deteriorate– Storage and shelving practices– Supplies and materials– Care of materials by category– Insurance and appraisal– When to seek help from a professional

What are Family Treasures?

What Would You Save?

• If your house was on fire and your family (people and pets) are all safe, what one thing would you take out of the house with you?

What Would You Save???

• Whatever you said you would save, there is a good chance that it is a personal essential record and/or a “family treasure.”

Let’s learn more about personal essential records….

Personal essential records are

those items that…• Help you respond to emergencies• Protect health, safety, and rights• Require massive resources to reconstruct• Document the history of community and

families

We will look at each category over the next few slides.

Some records are necessary for emergency response

In your personal life, this means having a family emergency plan. What kinds of questions does a family emergency plan cover?

---Does your family have an alternate place to meet if you couldn’t get back home? --Do you have emergency supplies like food and water readily available? --Do you know how to shut off the water or gas in your house?

For more on emergency planning:

Federal Emergency Management Agency - Ready America:http://www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan/index.html

Other records protect your rights an help you function

after a disaster:• Mortgages/rental agreements• Birth, marriage, and death

certificates• Medical records• Insurance

– Medical– Homeowners– Car– Life

Some personal essential records

would be difficult to reconstruct

Based upon large amounts of data

Examples:• Tax records• Cell phone contacts• Email and physical

address books

Some records document family history

• These are FAMILY TREASURES• They do not need to be made

of paper, but can be made from a variety of materials—your grandmother’s china, a high school yearbook, photographs of your great-grandparents, your great aunt’s quilt…

Why do materials deteriorate?

Why Materials Deteriorate

• Chemical and physical NO composition

• Storage conditions YES

• Use and handling YES

Brittle scrapbook

Can we control?

Chemical and Physical Composition

• Most family treasures are composed of organic materials, and organic materials are designed to break down over time.

• Some materials are inherently more stable—stone and ceramic for example, while others are less so, like most paper and textiles.

• Some materials weaken because of the way they were put together--poor quality bindings contribute to the deterioration of many scrapbooks, for example.

Sources of Damage• Prolonged exposure to heat and

humidity:– Speeds up chemical deterioration

processes already occurring in paper, photographs, and audiovisual materials

• Exposure to light:– Fades inks, pigments, and final image

material in books, documents and photographs

– Speeds up chemical deterioration

Sources of Damage

One can see where another book was stored next to this one—the parts of the cover exposed to light have faded.

Sources of Damage: Tape and Glue

• Use of acidic adhesives and tapes does more harm than good

• Results in staining from adhesive and “adhesive creep”

• Adhesive creep= adhesive migrates and sticks to other materials

• Adhesives are bad for long term preservation

Sources of Damage (continued)

• Wear from use (china gets chipped, bibles gets ink or coffee stains on them)– Do not stop using them, but beware of

their fragility and handle with care

Those items that are extremely valuable to us are probably going to be used and handled a lot.

Sources of Damage (continued)

• Poor quality storage materials– Appropriate paper storage materials like

alkaline buffered and acid-free papers and boards have only been widely available for 25-30 years. Anything older than that has the potential to be harming your records and treasures.

– Be suspect of plastics of unknown origin and not from reputable vendors. Certain kinds of plastics like PVC can very harmful for collections storage.

• Cracks in ceramics, wooden objects, and paintings: …can occur due to physical damage, extreme temperature and humidity conditions, and chemical degradation

• Books with loose or detached bindings: … can further fall apart and cause more severe damage

• Adhesives yellowing and failing:… like Elmer’s Glue, is not made to last for hundreds of years. Over time, the glue yellows and cracks

• Water damage and signs of mold: …broken pipes, leaky roofs or basements, have resulted in water damage to documents. If left unnoticed, mold may develop, putting both the document itself, and potentially your health, at risk.

Some Signs of Deterioration…

Have You Seen Any of These?

How Can We Preserve Our Family Treasures?

• We can not change the chemical and physical composition of materials

• We can change the way we store and handle them to help extend their useful lives

Storage and Supplies

Storage Practices: Cool and Dry

• Would you want to live in a hot, humid house filled with bugs? Neither do your collections!

Usually, the attic or the basement is the WORST place to store your collections because of fluctuations in temperature and humidity, the potential for leaks, and rodents, and the fact that you probably don’t spend a lot of time in those locations, so you are not in tune with your collection’s environments.

Storage Practices: Location, Location,

Location!• Avoid basements or attics:

--Both places are notorious for water damage/mold from leaks

--Often these spaces lack insulation

• Do not place shelving along exterior walls (temperature and humidity fluctuations)

• Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight

• Keep away from skylights…they leak!

Storage Practices: Cool and Dry

• In general, your family treasures should be stored in places that are…– Cool– Dry– Well-ventilated– Free from pests – Protected from light– Protected from fire – Protected from leaks

Storing Your Family Treasures:Temperature & Relative Humidity

Control• Ideal conditions 68-72° F and 30-

50% relative humidity• Try to make incremental changes

—Move items from attic to room with better conditions for starters…

• If you cool with window units, run at low speeds to increase dehumidification capability

Materials Sensitive to High Humidity

• Metal• Paper• Textiles• Wood• Inlay• Veneer• Finishes• Parchment • Paper Mache• Baskets• Magnetic media

Think about where these items are located in your house.Are they stored in the attic? The basement? The barn or shed? These are places where you are likely to have leaks and a potential for high humidity, which can lead to swelling and mold. Avoid air conditioning vents, where air tends to be damp.

Materials Sensitive to Low Humidity

• Wood• Rawhide• Leather• Parchment

• Animal glues• Tortoise shell• Ivory• Inlaid

surfacesFurniture can dry out, woods can crack, veneers can peel. Since you probably have these objects stored in the same place as the items that are sensitive to high humidity, this can prove quite a challenge. Try and control the fluctuations and extremes in either direction. There is more humidity in the summer. In the winter, the heating system kicks on and dries up the air in your house. Keep materials away from direct source of heat/air vents to minimize the damage

• Baskets• Quill• Vellum

Storing Your Family Treasures:

Air Circulation• Stagnant air often found in

attics/basements• Stagnant air = happy mold spores• Fans can increase air circulation

and prevent mold growth• If mold already present—take care;

fans could spread spores!

Storing Your Family Treasures:

Mold• For more information on mold, see

LYRASIS Preservation leaflet, “Invasion of the Giant Mold Spore”:– http://bit.ly/LYRPresMold

Storing Your Family Treasures: Pests

• Types of pests: silverfish, roaches, moths, beetles, rodents…all damage family treasures

• Monitor treasures, especially those packed away

• Look for signs of activity (chewing, skins, fecal remains)

• Keep areas clean and dry • Seal up windows and doors

Shelving Practices

• Some treasures are hung or on display• Others stored in boxes on shelves• Steel shelving preferred—does not off-

gas• Wood shelving can off-gas volatile

organic compounds (VOCs). Seal with polyurethane or create a barrier between wood and objects with glass, Plexiglas, or Marvelseal™

• Oversized items should be shelved flat

Microclimates

• A small environment in which an object is stored, ideally protecting the item from external hazards and slowing the physical and chemical deterioration.

• Microclimates can protect family treasures.

• Can be made from paper, plastic, or other appropriate enclosure.

Supplies

• Make sure you are using appropriate supplies for enclosures and storage

• Some vendors use terms that have no real meaning—meant to make you think products are high quality when they may or may not be

• When in doubt, call up supplier and ask questions

Supplies

• Beware of vague terms such as “Archival quality”, “Acid-free”, and “Photo-safe”. – these terms can be used appropriately in

association with a standard and from a reputable vendor.

• Some better terms are:– “Lignin” and “lig-free” paper– Photograph Activity Test (PAT)– ANSI/NISO Z39.48 standard for permanent

paper

Use Inert Plastics

If you are purchasing plastic sleeves, containers, or foam padding, look for items made out of inert plastics, such as:

•Polyester (Mylar, Melinex, Tyvek)•Polyethylene•Polypropylene

Use Inert Plastics

Do NOT use PVC or polystyrene peanuts or plastics of unknown origin for long-term storage.

Object Storage

These items are safe for object storage:

• Black or white polyethylene foams—other colors may be chemically treated and harm your materials

• Polypropylene containers like Rubbermaid or Sterilite

No PVC Plastics or Polystyrene

Peanuts for Long-Term Storage

• PVC = polyvinyl chloride• These objects can off-gas, deteriorate, and damage

your materials• If unsure of plastic’s origin consider replacing

Image from http://natmus.dk/index.php?id=356

Purchasing Supplies

• Order from reputable suppliers whenever possible

• Look for appropriate terminology

• Never assume “equivalence”– “Acid-free does not mean “lignin-free”– “Photo-safe” does not mean PVC-free– Archival is not necessarily fade-proof

Testing Paper Supplies

• Use a pH pen to test acidity levels in paper supplies and enclosures

• Most common is Abbey pH pen, which uses chlorophenol red as the pH indicator agent

Testing with Abbey pH Pen

• Draw a small line or spot in an unobtrusive area of the material being tested

• If mark is pale yellow, the paper is acidic

• If mark is pale purple, the paper is neutral or alkaline

• If mark is tan, the paper is somewhat acidic

Use and Handling• Careful handling is as important as appropriate storage

• Consider condition of the original

– Some treasures are only used for special occasions

– Others can handle everyday use

– Physical state of original may determine amount/kind of use

• Wash hands before handling: dirt, oils from your skin, and today’s lunch can damage materials

• Do not lift oversized, awkward, or heavy items alone

• When in doubt, consult a conservator for appropriate storage and handling

Caring for Treasures: Paper

Caring for Treasures by Type: Paper

What do you have in your collections that are made out of paper?

The kind of paper the material is made of greatly influences how long the material will last.

Documents and Papers

• The “Era of Bad Paper”: 1850-1970Caused by:– Fiber source– Beating technology– Chlorine bleaching– Additives

How is Paper Made?

• Paper is made of a sheet of cellulose fibers of vegetable origin reduced to a pulp with water and formed into a sheet on a screen

• Its quality is greatly affected by the fiber source, the pulping process and the additives used

• Paper can be made of all sorts of things, not just wood

Fiber Source: Cotton and Linen Rags

• Prior to the mid-to-late nineteenth century, paper in the West was made from recycled linen and cotton rags.

• Early rag-based paper is durable and permanent.

• The spread of literacy during the industrial revolution increased the demand for paper, which prompted a search for alternative fibers.

Fiber Source: Wood Pulp

• Wood developed into the fiber of choice and with it came tremendous problems with durability and permanence.

• Wood based paper offered high level of yield at a low cost, but ultimately quality suffered.

• Unpurified wood pulp is a major source of acid.

• The quality of paper progressively declined primarily as a result of the introduction of acids in the papermaking process.

Beating Technology

• Paper is made by reducing a fiber source to a pulp. This is accomplished by beating.

• This used to be done with hammers, creating long fibers and strong paper.

• Mechanization cuts fibers rather than crushing them.

• This results in shorter, weaker fibers.

Chlorine Bleaching and Additives

• When chlorine is used to whiten paper and reduce lignin, paper becomes more acidic and deteriorates more quickly.

• When impurities such as iron and copper are introduced into the process, they further degrade the paper.

• Sizing agents—added to improve printability—also contribute to acidity in paper.

Some Hope for Papers

• More paper mills have converted to alkaline-based processes. This produces better quality paper and is better for the environment.

• ANSI Z39.48 Standard for Permanent Paper– Products that meet this standard will

have longer life than traditional papers– Also look for lignin-free and/or alkaline

buffered products

Papers with Preservation Problems

• Brittle paper• Newsprint• Telegrams• Unstable copy

processes (faxes, thermographic papers)

• Onion skin• Tracing paper

These papers will deteriorate or fade rapidly. They may need to be reformatted or treated by conservator.

Inks

• Ink formulas vary widely• Many will fade when exposed to light• Many will bleed when exposed to

moisture• Some will even eat through paper (like

iron gaulle ink)• For long-term preservation, use inks that

are permanent, fade-proof, and water-proof

Documents and Papers: Storage

• Keep temperature and humidity fluctuations to a minimum.

• Copy poor quality papers onto alkaline buffered paper.

• Place documents in appropriately sized, alkaline buffered folders.

• Folders may be stored in document boxes or file cabinets.

Avoid Harmful Adhesives & Fasteners

• Rubber bands… deteriorate and stick to paper

• Staples…rust• Paper clips…rust• Glue (Rubber Cement, Elmer’s,

etc.)…yellow, stain and lose adhesion

• Cellophane tape…carrier comes off, leaves acidic adhesive that stains

Tape Damage

You should not use any tape on your materials. Over time, they often do more harm than good.

The acids from the glue that was used to hold thisclipping in place is now staining the document.

Damage from Glue

Bound Volumes

• Avoid pulling on head/endcap toremove from shelf—hold the frontand back cover between thumb and fingers in center of spine

• Do not force open• Do not “dog ear” or leave objects in

book (flowers, sticky notes, newspaper clippings)

Bound Volumes: Storage

• Shelve items snug for support, but not too tight

• Store oversize volumes flat

• Boxes for fragile volumes– Custom, drop spine boxes– Phase boxes and wrappers– Polyester dust jackets– Binders for pamphlets – Envelopes for lightweight

items

Drop spine box

Four flap, tux boxes, or wrappers

Family Bibles have….• Thin paper (often of poor quality)• Poor quality bindings• Been well-used and are• Hard (and expensive to

repair)

What to do?• Store in dry, cool environment• Create custom enclosure• Handle with care

Artwork

• Leave repairs to conservator• Where and how you hang artwork

can affect how long it lasts• What materials you use to frame

your artwork can also have a significant impact

Framing and Display• Use alkaline buffered mats

and backing board• Item should not come in

contact with glazing• Hinging of item to back mat

board should be reversible – no tape or permanent adhesives

• Hang in area that receives limited light, or display a reproduction instead.

• To protect from light damage, use UV filtering glazing

Selecting a Framer

• Ask for recommendations• Specify how you want object framed• Look at how object was framed

Selecting a Framer

• Look for members of the Professional Picture Framers Association – http://www.pmai.org/ppfa/

• To learn more, Matting and Framing for Art and Artifacts on Paper– http://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/

preservation-leaflets/4.-storage-and-handling/4.10-matting-and-framing-for-art-and-artifacts-on-paper

Hanging Artwork• Screw eyes should be attached to thick area of

frame• Eyes and ring hangers better than teeth (which put

too much strain on top portion of frame)• Wire should be strong enough to hang painting• Take care where you hang—make sure hook and

wall itself is strong enough• Avoid hanging in direct sunlight to prevent damage

from natural light/UV• Avoid hanging against outdoor wall—temp/RH

fluctuations• Use “bumper” to raise artwork from wall—will allow

air circulation, prevent mold/condensation and prevent artwork from scratching wall

Caring for Treasures: Photographic Materials and Films

Are composed of three or four layers:

1. Support2. Binder3. Final Image4. Baryta Layer (optional)

Photographs

• May be glass, plastic film, paper, or resin-coated paper

• Provides the structure and stability for the photograph to be used/held, etc.

Photographs: Support

• Holds the image to support• Usually gelatin, but may be

albumen or collodian

Photographs: Binder/Emulsion

• Usually suspended in the emulsion/binder

• Made of silver, color dyes or pigment particles

• This is what makes the image you see

Photographs: Final Image (blue dots)

Photographs: Baryta Layer

• Optional layer• Between base and binder• Provides bright, smooth

background for image to display against

Photographs deteriorate due to:

Chemical and physical compositionPoor environmental storage conditionsPoor storage enclosures and shelving

conditions Inappropriate use and handlingDisasters

NaturalPeople-createdElectronic

Cellulose Acetate Most family treasures on this type of

negative (1920’s- Present)Created in response to nitrate film,

which was flammableOften identified by “safety” written

on the sideVulnerable to vinegar syndromeDeterioration characteristics

• Vinegar smell• Bubbles/crystals• Shrinking

Vinegar Syndrome

Photographic Prints & Negatives: Storage and

Handling• All supplies should meet

the PAT test• Store prints and

negatives separately• Early formats may need

custom housing• Wear cotton gloves for

negatives and handle from edges only

Avoid Exposure Light and Heat

• Chemical processes in different types of photographs react with light and heat, especially chromogenic photographs (Kodachrome, Ektachrome processes)

• Exposure to light and high temperatures can cause dyes to fade or leftover chemicals to stain.

Scrapbooks and Albums

– Interleave between pages if necessary– Shelve spine down or flat – Protect from dust and light in a proper

sized enclosure

Interleaving

What to interleave:• Photographs• Highly acidic items

What type of paper to use:

• Acid-free• Passes Photograph

Activity Test (PAT)• NO glassine

Learn More about Photographs

• Check out– Image Permanence Institute

• http://www.imagepermanenceinstitute.org

– NEDCC resources• http://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-

leaflets/overview

• Sign up for online classes through LYRASIS– Preservation of Photographic Materials– Picture This: Introduction to Digital

Imaging– http://bit.ly/LYRClasses

Scrapbooks and Albums Handling

– Do not open flat– Support fragile volumes with foam blocks or a

book cradle– Store snugly in box, spine down or flat

(depending upon size)

Modern Scrapbooks and Albums

• Use low lignin and acid free paper• Use photo corners instead of adhesives

• Avoid “magnetic” albums (see example on right)• Choose albums with inert plastic pockets or paper pages• No PVCs

Videotape/Audiotape Storage

• Maintain clean storage areas• Keep controlled environment

50-60°F, 40-50% RH• Replace acidic cardboard or vinyl boxes• Store vertically• Avoid sources of magnetic fields• To learn more about caring for videos

from the AIC…• http://bit.ly/cyWpKP

Videotapes: Sticky Shed Syndrome

• Occurs most commonly in polyester videotapes made between 1975-1985

• Caused by high relative humidity, high temperatures, and natural aging

• Characteristics: Higher friction, gummy or waxy residue

• If you suspect sticky shed syndrome, take to a professional to inspect/reformat

Home Movies

• Stored on film, videocassette, and digital video

• Keep cool and dry in inert plastic containers

• Keep original after transfer

• Check out Home Movie Day!– http://www.homemovieday.com/

Cold Storage for Photographs

and FilmCold storage can be used to slow • Fading and deteriorating color

photographs• Vinegar Syndrome in acetate

negatives, films, and reel-to-reel tapes

Digital Collections

• More and more family treasures are being created electronically or digitized

• What kinds of family treasures do you have in electronic format?

Digital Collections…A Few Examples

• Photos• Video• Emails• Facebook pages• Music• Online scrapbooks and much more!

What are you doing to preserve these things?

Preserving Digital Collections

• Unfortunately there are no easy answers…

But here are a few things you can do to ensure that your digital family treasures last…

Digital Collections• If digitizing, keep the original

object– it may be easier to re-digitize from

the original

• When in doubt, print it out!– We know how to preserve paper, so

if you can create a paper copy, do so

Digital Collections• Keep multiple digital copies in multiple

places– Send copies to friends and family around the

country. Keep some on cd, some on your computer, buy a back-up hard drive

• Be prepared and proactive to migrate materials– Did you ever have to transfer your documents

from Word Perfect to Microsoft Word?– Plan to migrate your materials at least every

five years onto new media and/or a new format

Caring for Treasures: Furniture and Other Objects

Furniture

• Often complex components (glass, wood, textiles, nails, stains, adhesives)

• Sunlight can affect color and finish• Keep out of direct sunlight• Avoid humid conditions for wood• Vulnerable to pests infestations

– Wood: termites/beetles– Textiles: moths/carpet beetles

For more on furniture, see Saving Your Treasures: Furniturehttp://www.netnebraska.org/basic-page/television/saving-your-treasures-furniture

Furniture: Care and Handling

• Use pads and coasters to prevent wear and tear– Use mylar backed cork– Don’t use felt because it absorbs moisture

• Moving furniture– Move from from the bottom not the top– Do not drag across floor– Make sure you have enough folks to lift – If moving long distances make sure properly padded

and you understand your insurance coverage

Furniture: Cleaning

• Clean with lint-free cloth—good bet for most wood

• Cloth can be vacuumed with brush attachment wrapped in cheesecloth

• Avoid stain-resistant treatments• Use paste wax sparingly• Do not wax damaged areas

Decorative Metals

• Many decorative metals look alike but need to be stored, handled and cared differently

• Never clean/polish without accurate identification

Silver• Generic term• Sterling silver= 92.5% pure and will be

labeled “sterling”• Susceptible to mixing with other metals

—leads to corrosion (tarnishing)• Tarnish = silver sulfide • Oil on your hands can corrode• Removing tarnish removes portion of

the silver; over time, loses shape, luster, etc.

Cleaning and Storing Silver• Early stages of tarnish can be remove without

polishing using a clean piece of flannel, muslin or other soft cotton

• Solid pieces can be hand washed with mild detergent; hollow pieces should not be—water can work its way into hollow parts and corrode

• Do not put silver in dishwasher—hand wash and dry quickly

• For more on cleaning silver, see video, see Saving Nebraska’s Treasures website: How to Polish Silver– http://netnebraska.org/interactive-multimedia/culture/saving-

your-treasures-how-polish-silver-objects • Avoid storing acidic foods or foods with sulfur:

lemon, tomatoes, eggs• Also avoid rubber, fresh flowers, newspaper, wool

and salt

Textiles

• Deteriorate due to chemical changes, mechanical wear, and mishandling

• Light and heat fade colors, break down fibers, and discolor finishes

• High relative humidity can lead to mold/mildew

• Low relative humidity can lead to drying out• Atmospheric pollutants, acidic wood/paper,

or cleaning chemicals damage fabrics• Creases from folds damage over time

Textiles: Storage

• Keep out of sun and fluorescent light• Display flat or at an angle to minimize

stretching or pulling of fabric• Avoid pesticides and mothballs• Store in acid-free boxes with unbuffered tissue

or wrapped in clean, with sheets• Avoid creases by padding with unbuffered tissue • Roll rugs or blankets pile outward and wrap in

undyed cotton or white sheet

Textiles: Cleaning

• Blot spills immediately• Sturdy fabrics can be vacuumed with

brush attachment covered with cotton cheesecloth on low suction

• Do not wash or dry clean fragile textiles• For more on caring for textiles, see

Saving Your Treasures: Textiles– http://www.netnebraska.org/basic-page/television/saving-

your-treasures-textiles

Clothing• Keep use to a minimum if you are concerned

with keeping the item in good shape• Restrict use to those who are the same size or

smaller of the original wearer • Avoid exposure to deodorant and make-up• Fragile items should not be dry-cleaned,

bleached, or even washed• Hang on well-padded plastic hanger covered

in unbleached cotton cloth that is as wide as garment’s shoulders to support

• Avoid hanging knit, bias-cut or heavy garments

Glass and Ceramics: Storage and Handling

• Use clean, bare hands when handling• Do not pick up by handles or rim• Store in dry cupboards—do not overstack

so you can easily lift in/out• Pad individual pieces if necessary—

ethafoam, flannel, paper towels, or polyethelene. Do not use newsprint

• Don’t use heirloom objects for food storage or flower arrangements

Glass and Ceramics: Display

• Best displayed in cabinets with glass panels rather than open shelves—this forms an additional layer of protection from prying hands, kids running into, dust, fluctuations in temperature and humidity

• If you use glass plate stands, use plastic ones—metal ones might rust

• If you use metal hooks to hang on walls, purchase clear vinyl tubing from hardware store to slip over the hangers to protect ceramics from damage

• Use mats for pieces displayed on furniture. This protects both pieces from damage and limits likelihood that piece will slip

Glass and Ceramics: Cleaning

• Wash glazed and glass objects by hand• Avoid washing unglazed objects or those with

objects with gold edging, hand-painting or repairs. Use dry brush

• Do not use dusting sprays, polishes, bleach or commercial cleaners

• Do not use scrub pads—only foam sponges• Chandeliers should be dusted with soft-haired brush• Mirrors—do not spray directly on mirror but on cloth

Insurance, Appraisers, and Conservation

Insurance for Your Family Treasures

• Do you have renter’s or homeowner’s insurance?• Make sure that you understand what events your

policy covers and what kind of restitution you will receive

• If you have particularly valuable family treasures, make sure that you add specific riders on your insurance policy for replacement value of these items

• Maintain a list of your family treasures, complete with time/date stamped photographs to document condition in case of damage or theft

• Store list in multiple places (outside of the house).

Appraisers

• Appraisers can help you determine value of your family treasures

• Good appraiser will charge flat fee that they will tell you upfront

• Do not use appraiser who will charge a percentage of the item’s value

• American Society of Appraisers– http://www.appraisers.org/ASAHome.aspx

• Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America– http://abaa.org

Leave Repairs to the Experts

Amateur repair can cause more harm than good!

When in doubt, DO NOTHING!

Conservation vs. Restoration

• Restoration – An attempt to make an item look as though

it were new – Replacing worn or deteriorated parts.

• Conservation – Focus is on chemical and physical

stabilization – Rule of reversibility: Any thing done by a

conservator should be able to be undone. – “Less is best”

Seeking Conservation Treatment

• Seek treatment to stabilize rather than “restore”.

• Choose a conservator according to specialty(i.e., paper, books, paintings, objects, textiles)

• A conservator should provide– Proposed treatment estimate – Examination and condition assessment– Written report and before and after photography– Insurance coverage

• Contact two or three conservators for estimates and check their references.

How to Find a Conservator

• The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) of Historic and Artistic Works maintains a list – http://bit.ly/csPyuF

• For more help on selecting a conservator see the AIC Guidelines for Selecting a Conservator

When Should You Contact a Conservator?

• After a disaster• If you see signs of pest infestation• If an item has been broken or torn• If you notice a rapid change in the

condition of an item• If you have a mold or mildew

outbreak

For More Information

• Heritage Preservation’s Caring for Your Family Treasures– http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PUBS/

treasures.HTM

• Saving Nebraska’s Treasures– http://netnebraska.org/basic-page/

television/saving-your-treasures

Follow Us on

• http://www.facebook.com/LyrDigPres

Thank You!Contact us if you have any

questionsLYRASIS Preservation Services

1438 W. Peachtree St. NW/Suite 200

Atlanta, GA 30309preservation@lyrasis.org

1-800-999-8558