8.20.2009

CARING FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION

All of us own photographs. Whether they are treasured family mementos or fine art photography purchased from a gallery, photographs hold special meaning for all of us. Despite their prevalence in our lives, few people know how to properly care for photographs. A few simple steps can help ensure the longevity of your photography collection:

1. Know the Enemy

The biggest threats to photographs are sunlight, fluctuations in temperature, and fluctuations in humidity. When displaying photographs, be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight. Even those not exposed to direct sunlight are susceptible to fading over time. It is best to rotate your photographs on view, to allow periodic breaks from light exposure.

Maintaining a stable environment is the best way to protect your photographs. For museum standards, this means a temperature between 68 to 72 degrees with a relative humidity between 45 to 55 percent. Most of our homes are a bit warmer than 72 degrees, and that is okay. The key is maintaining a stable temperature. And who knows the relative humidity of their home? Again, the key is a stable, climate-controlled environment. This means no photographs in the attic, basement, or stuffy closets.

2. Give Them a Good Home

The second key to preserving photographs is proper storage. All too often, photographs sustain damage due to storage in acidic materials. If you purchase a vintage photograph in an old mat, remove the mat right away. Go to a reputable frame shop and have the photograph re-matted using acid-free materials. When storing photographs in boxes, folders, or sleeves, make sure all materials are acid-free. If stacking photographs in a box, layer acid-free tissue paper between each photograph. Also, exercise care when handling photographs. It is best to wear white cotton gloves to prevent the transfer of oils from your hands to the photograph. If gloves are not available, be sure to wash and thoroughly dry your hands before handling photographs.

It is also a good idea to identify your photographs. For fine art photography, record as much information as possible including the title, date, photographer, location, provenance (a record of previous owners), and any other information relevant to the work. For family photos, list the names, location, and date on the reverse of the image using a soft lead pencil. Your kids and grandkids will thank you one day.

3. Use Your Resources

When in doubt, seek the advice of an expert. Museums, galleries, and historical societies are your best resources for the proper care and storage of photographs. These people are the experts, and most are very willing to offer guidance to collectors. And if you own a photograph that has sustained damage, they can refer you to a paper conservator qualified to treat your photograph. But if you follow these guidelines, hopefully you will never find yourself in that situation!


Pam Wall
Associate Curator
Gibbes Museum of Art

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