How to Care for Your Stuff

Some people make albums to care for their documents and photographs. Others want to use albums to share these materials.

Most important! You want to protect your original documents from damage. Make sure that you “do no harm” to your originals when making an album.

• Here are three simple steps to guide you!

  1. The best way to protect your family documents and photographs is to store them in a safe environment.

     • Keep them in a place that avoids excessive heat, light, moisture, dust and poor or uncirculated air.

     • Do not store them in attics or basements or near laundry or bathrooms.

     • Natural and fluorescent lights cause photographs and documents to fade. Keep them in as dark a place as possible.

  2. Make copies of your original documents for your scrapbook. You want to make copies because it will allow you to share them with others while protecting the originals from being damaged.

  3. Use archival quality materials for making albums.

     • Archival materials do not contain acids or other chemicals that will harm documents and photographs. You can purchase these materials at many local businesses.

  Click here to see a list of archival quality materials that you may want to use.