Preservation - Pests and Plastic

Archivists are often asked about the best way to look after old photographs and papers to preserve them in good condition for as long as possible.

The displays in the archives have been mounted using different kinds of adhesive and non-adhesive solutions. This double-sided tape, used here across the middle of the reverse side of the photo, seems to be the only one that comes away easily without tearing or leaving (visible) adhesive residue on the back of the photo. But it is not very old, so the adhesive hasn't had time to become dry, brittle and powdery yellow (we all have remnants of that kind of sticky tape...) And perhaps it isn't very sticky - is that why the square adhesive stickers have also been used in the corners? They are MUCH stickier, so the photo will certainly not get lost, but then they are hard to adjust or remove if desired, and tend to tear the mount.

This display has been encapsulated: sealed in a two-sided plastic jacket to protect everything inside. This makes it splash-proof, loss-proof, and sticky-finger-proof. When it was new, it may have been waterproof and bug-proof (most bugs aren't very interested in eating through plastic). Now though, the glues around the edges are coming unstuck, so air, moisture and bugs can get in. Once in, moisture and bugs would have a nice protected micro-climate to grow in, which we don't want. I have removed the plastic from this display to dismantle it, and wouldn't use it now except perhaps as a temporary measure to protect a display intended for outdoors.

This display included several original paper items from the 1920s, wrapped in plastic to protect their front sides while on show, and to protect their back sides from being stuck directly to the board. This is practical, but shouldn't have been permanent. When I removed these items from the board, I found that the folds in the plastic at the back had been a perfect nest for silverfish eggs :(

While we're on the subject of silverfish...

Here's what they can do to paper.

These aren't old photos, damaged by time and wear - they are new copies of old items (thank goodness), eaten at by silverfish.

Old-fashioned photo corners are a non-adhesive solution for displaying pictures. The white paper holders are stuck to the mount, and the photo slots into the corner holders and is held in place without glue or tape. Which is very good for the picture until it falls out and gets lost. At least, since there is a caption, we may recognise the picture if we find it somewhere else in the archives...

So, the perfect photo display solution? The quest continues...