By Maureen A. Taylor
Safely store those old marriage certificates, deeds, letters and other precious papers.
• Remove staples, paperclips,
rubber bands and metal fasteners from
documents. They deteriorate and cause damage.
• Handle documents as little as
possible and wear cotton gloves.
• Store flat in acid-free and lignin-free
enclosures such as folders and certain
types of plastics such as Mylar.
• Never laminate documents. (For
step-by-step instructions on how to safely encapsulate documents instead, see the April 2001 Family Tree Magazine.)
• Keep them in a dark place with a
stable temperature and humidity.
• Let professionals repair and de-acidify
documents.