#preservingpersonalitems

Preserving Personal Items

What does your acoustic guitar have in common with your yearbook? No, it isn’t sweet memories of your almost famous garage band. Both are made of wood, so they both require the same storage conditions. When the sales rep told you how to care for your beloved new Martin, he or she was also telling you how to care for your mom’s scrapbooks, your grandma’s love letters, and your pre-schooler’s self portrait, which bears an uncanny resemblance to a sweet potato stabbed with toothpicks. 

Keep the following in mind when planning storage for your paper treasures: -Avoid prolonged exposure to light -Store your treasures in a cool and dry (ca. 30 - 50% relative humidity) environment. These numbers may go up and down with the seasons. -Keep documents away from bathrooms, attics and basements or where water and pests are more likely to be.