Once you’ve investigated what type of paper they are written on, here are a few steps you can take to preserve your old letters:
- Work on a clean surface with freshly washed hands, and avoid handling the letters more than necessary.
- Remove and discard those failing rubber bands, which can leach chemicals that can harm your letters, but make note of...
How can I preserve my old letters?
Once you’ve investigated what type of paper they are written on, here are a few steps you can take to preserve your old letters: Work on a clean surface with freshly washed hands, and avoid handling the letters more than necessary.
What do you do with your old cards and letters?
Here’s my philosophy: Get rid of all cards and letters that don’t add to your happiness. Keep the things that matter; repurpose everything else. Here are seven things I like to do with all the cards and letters I receive. 1. Scan & store them on your computer.
What is the best way to store antique documents?
If you have a large number of antique documents to store, such as a photographs, place them in a photo-safe box with sheets of acid-free paper between them. If you have photographs or documents that will be handled occasionally for viewing, store them individually in plastic sleeves or pockets made specifically for heirlooms.
What is the best way to store old cards?
Vintage wooden pants hangers (the kind with a clip) are great for holding cards. 5) Simply stand your favorite ones on a shelf, countertop or mantel—or stick them to your fridge: Use wire photo holders, recipe card holders or plate stands to elevate cards.
How do I store keepsake letters?
After you have put your letters in chronological order, unfolded them and encapsulated them, it is now time to file and store them. Archivists prefer to put their encapsulated letters into archival file folders and then into archival boxes, being sure to keep the chronological order intact.
Should I save old letters?
Those old letters in your genealogy records collection should be preserved for future generations. Whether you have 100 letters or just one, they are important to your family history and add to your family story. Some you may have in your collection could include war letters.
What should you do with old letters?
For cards and letters you want to keep:Scan & store them on your computer. ... Tuck them in your scrapbook or journal. ... Keep them so you can one day give them back to the writer. ... Repurpose them into tags & gift cards. ... Repurpose them into scrapbook & journal embellishments. ... Repurpose card tops into postcards.More items...
How do you take care of old letters?
Preserving your old lettersPrep your workspace. Thoroughly wash and dry your hands. ... Unfold and remove any bindings. Remove any staples, paper clips, or any other metal attaching papers together. ... Scan or take photos of every page, including the envelope. ... Place in your archival storage. ... Store properly. ... Other tips.
Is it weird to keep old love letters?
“Old love letters seem to serve a purpose to remind a person why they were attractive or desired by a past person. They're beautiful and sentimental but there is no value but to remind you about a highlight in your life.
What do you do with old love letters from your parents?
If those old love letters are yours – it is ok to keep them. However, if the love letters belonged to your parents (or another relative), the advice was to “burn them ceremonially and send the love back into the universe”.
How do you store old cards and letters?
Put them on display Keep cards in a large, see-through container: ... Frame individual cards to hang on a wall: ... Create a collage of cards and put them in a shadow box: ... Hang cards on a wall. ... Simply stand your favorite ones on a shelf, countertop or mantel—or stick them to your fridge:More items...•
Where do you keep important letters?
If you decide to store your letters and cards in a closet, a plastic bin or a canvas lidded box would work well or even an archival safe paperboard box. A more decorative container would work well in a living or public space like your family room, den or even your bedroom.
How do you organize letters?
1:123:39The SECRET organized mail & receipts! (NO MORE CLUTTER!)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd your desk file holder label. One of them to file label. One of them action and label one of themMoreAnd your desk file holder label. One of them to file label. One of them action and label one of them tax. And reference documents. Using that mail you're going to designate.
Are old letters worth anything?
Do they have any value? A--Yes, but it depends on the stamp used and the postmark. Do not remove the stamps from the letters since collectors want the entire envelope as part of postal history. Take the letters to a stamp bourse or stamp store to get some idea of value.
How do you preserve Civil War documents?
The Archive Lady: How to Preserve Civil War Letters?Take each letter out of its envelope. ... Scan or digitize the letters and envelopes. ... Purchase archival sleeves that have passed the P.A.T. ... Purchase archival file folders that have passed the P.A.T. to file the letters.More items...•
What letters have been removed from the English alphabet?
Modern English. In the orthography of Modern English, thorn (þ), eth (ð), wynn (ƿ), yogh (ȝ), ash (æ), and œ are obsolete.
How do you handle old paper documents?
Properly store your documents Store documents flat in a cool, dry, and dark area. Papers should always be stored in acid-free, alkaline materials (like boxes, folders, or mats) or in polyester film folders. Never keep your documents in a damp or humid areas, such as basements, attics, or bathrooms.
How do you keep old papers safe?
Caring for Your Paper DocumentsStore papers in a cool, dry, dark environment.Heat and humidity can cause paper to become brittle or moldy, and light can cause fading or yellowing.Store papers in archival containers.Boxes, paper sleeves, folders, or mats should always be preservation quality.More items...
How do you store family history documents?
One of the best ways to preserve family history papers is to create digital copies of them. Digitizing documents provides a great backup plan in case of flood, fire, or other damage. It also allows you to handle the documents without damaging them. Digitizing documents and letters also allows you to share them easily.
How do you preserve family documents?
How to Preserve Old Family DocumentsWash your hands to avoid transferring oils to paper and work on a clean, flat surface.Carefully unfold the document and remove any staples, pins or fasteners. ... Place each item in an acid-free, lignin-free folder or archival plastic enclosure.More items...•
How to keep cards organized?
This is a great way to keep cards organized by year or occasion—just add an index card to label them. Keep them in a desk drawer or nightstand where you can flip through them often.
Where to keep a syringe?
Keep them in a desk drawer or nightstand where you can flip through them often.
What is the purpose of folding cards in origami?
Fold the cards origami-style to add dimension.
Why do we keep cards on display?
Keeping your cards on display in your home or office can be a nice (and frequent) reminder of a special event or occasion and can be an instant pick-me-up when you’re having a hard day. It’s also a great way to decorate your space in a meaningful way.
Why do we have shoe boxes of cards?
They carry thoughts and feelings that really matter. And that’s ultimately why so many of us have our stuffed shoe boxes of cards—because words of kindness and appreciation make us happy and are worth reading again and again.
What is the best container for a pickle?
The more unusual the container, the better: a big pickle jar, wire basket, large glass vase or apothecary jar.
Where to hide cards?
12) Instead of storing or displaying cards, leave them in unexpected places all over your home (for example in a sock drawer, in a suitcase, in the pages of a book, under the kitchen sink). You never know when you’ll happen upon one that’ll bring a smile to your face. (Have a friend or family hide them for you, to make it even more of a surprise.)
How to store old documents?
That said, a few simple actions can keep them from becoming even more damaged. If you have a large number of antique documents to store, such as a photographs, place them in a photo-safe box with sheets of acid-free paper between them. If you have photographs or documents that will be handled occasionally for viewing, store them individually in plastic sleeves or pockets made specifically for heirlooms. Really long documents, such as deeds, may be stored safely in cardboard cylinders.
Can you print a digital copy of a keepsake?
And, you can always print digital copies of your keepsakes. That way, not only will you have an archive of the originals, but you can take off the kid gloves for a change.
Can you keep antique photos in everyday frames?
Though everyday frames may look nice, they aren't enough to keep your antique photos safe.
What is the best thing you can do for fragile documents?
For items like papers and fragile documents, the best thing you can do is to control the environment they’re stored in, said Maureen Callahan, an archivist for the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College.
Where to store old wedding gowns?
(Though, if you still want to go it alone, the same rules apply: Have a professional clean it, then store it in an acid free box in a cool, dark space away from water. )
How many copies of a digital file should be stored?
The key with digital archiving, archivists say, is duplication. Every important file should have three copies. Ideally, those three copies should be stored on at least two different storage media. Ms. Levenick said that she personally uses a 3-2-1 method for backing up: three copies, two different media and at least one away from home. For example, you might store two digital wedding albums on your desktop and in a cloud based storage.
How to find a conservator for a strange item?
Most libraries have an online reference system called Ask a Librarian that allows individuals to talk to preservationists who can advise them on how to best take care of the strange item, or point them toward an expert who can provide assistance, or help them find a conservator who might mend the item (though that can get pricey). A great place to start is the Library of Congress website.
What is the most important part of digital archiving?
Just as with paper archives, the most important part of archiving digital files is storage . “How you store your files and where will always be the most important form of preservation anyone can do,” Ms. Oey said. Computers, for example, are not safe in and of themselves.
Why use cardboard boxes over plastic bins?
Every conservator who spoke to The Times recommended cardboard boxes over plastic bins for storage, because they don’t breed mold as easily and dry out quicker. But if you want to get fancy, the best option is to buy acid-free archival boxes, online or from vendors like the Container Store.
How much does it cost to digitize a cassette?
But if you have a large collection, it’ll be more expensive. Many vendors charge around $15 to digitize a cassette. The Association for Recorded Sound Collections has a list of vendors and plenty of resources on preserving physical sound and digitizing it. Preserving video follows much of the same rules.
How to keep cards and letters?
Here are seven things I like to do with all the cards and letters I receive. For cards and letters you want to keep: 1. Scan & store them on your computer. If you really want to keep them, scan them—they’ll take up much less room.
How to keep a 2011 Christmas letter?
1. Scan & store them on your computer. If you really want to keep them, scan them—they’ll take up much less room. Create folders on your computer, like “2011 Christmas,” or just “2011” for all letters received then, or maybe “Schmidt Family” for all letters received over the years from a specific family.
How to send a card to someone?
Tips for doing this: 1 Be selective about the cards you keep—a few dear friends or family members is plenty. You want to give back a collection of that person’s story, so only hang onto the mail that contributes to it. 2 Keep everything in a box so you’ll have a set place to file away the items you want to send back one day. 3 Keep emails in a dedicated digital folder so you can include them as well. 4 You might want to be sneaky—write letters and notes to your chosen person so they might be inclined to do the same. (Email and telephone weren’t luxuries my grandma and her friend used. )
How to make a postcard out of a card?
Super easy—tear or cut the card in half. Recycle the half with the inside text and names; put a postcard stamp on the side with the pretty picture, and you’ve got your postcard.
What organizations use card tops?
Lots of organizations, from Girl Scouts to YMCA and Kiwanis summer camp programs, can use your card tops for their craft projects all year long. Ask your local camps if they’re in need.
Why do I like combining letters with my own stories?
I like combining letters with my own stories, because they offer different perspectives to life events.
Do you sweat tossing notes into the recycling bin?
They repurpose your card pieces into new cards that are then sold to raise funds for the organization. Ultimately, don’t sweat tossing notes, cards, and postcards into the recycling bin—it’s not a statement about how you feel about the person. You appreciated the card at the time. You still appreciate the person.
What is the best way to store photos?
Plastic sandwich bags are a good, inexpensive alternative to plastic sleeves if special supplies do not fit into your budget. Store large quantities of photos by layering them between sheets of acid-free paper in metal or cardboard boxes marked acid-free.
How to store large quantities of photos?
Store large quantities of photos by layering them between sheets of acid-free paper in metal or cardboard boxes marked acid-free. Large photo archive boxes can be easily stacked in a cabinet or closet, or even slid under a bed if storage space is at a premium.
How to protect old photos from damage?
Wear clean, cotton gloves when handling old photos. Touching the print side of a photo with your fingers can leave behind oils that can damage precious heirlooms and collectibles alike. Support the photos properly as you're sorting and identifying them since they can sometimes be fragile. Read More.
What to remove from photos before placing in acid free album?
Remove any glue, tape, staples, rubber bands, and paper clips that might stain, scratch or dent photographs before placing them in an acid-free album, storage box, or frame.
Can you take photos out of a magnetic album?
If you do decide to use a commercially available photo album, look for one labeled "acid-free." A visit to a hobby shop or photo supply store may be to find the safest type of album.
Can you store old photos?
You can store and preserve old photographs so they will last for generations to come. This means more than placing them in a photo album, as some types can damage the photos. You will need the right supplies and materials so you can get them into the best storage systems or display them appropriately. Most professionals advise handling old ...
Can you frame old photos with acid free mats?
Framing Your Old Photos. When framing, use acid-free mats to keep photos from touching the glass and acid-free backboards to avoid deterioration of the image. If you are having a photograph professionally framed, be sure to tell the framer you want acid-free materials. These will be a bit more expensive, so a framer may not use them automatically.
