What Are the Temperatures for Keeping Old Photographs Safe?

Environment

• It seems practical to store photographs in a basement or attic to keep them safe and out of the way, but these are the worst places to keep photos. Basements and attics are usually not insulated like the rest of the home, so they experience high humidity and temperature fluctuations that can destroy photos. Ideal conditions for preserving photographs are 50 to 65 degrees F with 30 to 40 percent humidity. Photographs should never be exposed to direct sunlight. Do not store them near a washer, dryer, furnace or air-conditioning unit, as these cause temperature fluctuations.

Proper Storage

• Even in the ideal temperature, a box of photographs can still be damaged. Taking proper care to archive them before storing can increase their life span. Acid is extremely damaging to photographs, and most paper, unless otherwise labeled, contains acid that can erode photographs, making them brown and brittle. Store photos in acid-free paper envelopes or separate them with sheets of acid-free paper. Never place photographs face-to-face; the emulsions can begin to stick and the photos will tear when separated. Place them in an acid-free album and store in photo-safe, tightly sealed boxes. Be sure the album pages and sleeves are not "magnetic" or vinyl.

Preserving Newspaper Photographs

• These days it is unnecessary to save old newspapers. Archiving systems in libraries are extremely advanced, and almost all papers, dating back centuries in some cases, are preserved on microfilm. Still, there is a proper method of preserving newspapers and photographs at home. Newsprint is highly acidic, so it should be kept away from all other photographs. Newspapers can be stored together without the risk of sticking like photos. Because newsprint is delicate, store it in the same cool, dry, dark environment recommended for photographs. If news photos have been clipped, store them in acid-free albums as well.

Archiving Photographs

• Labeling photographs helps future generations identify the people, places and time periods pictured, but writing on the backs of photos can be damaging. Use only a pencil, never an ink pen, to label the backs of photos. Mark in the margin of the back of the photograph where little is pictured on the front. Finally, don't press too hard to avoid making an indentation on the image.