From: "Joan Williams" <stefan(a)foothills.net>
Subject: [EKy] FYI: preserving those old newspaper articles and books
I'm forwarding this from another list. Thanks
Joan B. Williams
FIDGET PRESENTS: Ask Anne and Nan
By Anne B. Adams and Nancy Nash-Cummings
February 7, 2001
f * f * f * f * f * f * f * f * f * f * f * f * f * f * f
OLD PAPERS YELLOW WITH TIME
DEAR ANNE AND NAN: Over my lifetime of 92 years, I have
collected newspaper articles, letters, books and magazines,
some over 100 years old. In general, they are yellowing and
becoming more fragile as time goes on. I would like to save
them for my family, if possible. Is there anything I can do
to preserve them and prevent further deterioration? -- LYLE
HEDRICK, Gardnerville, Nev.
DEAR LYLE: In regard to your newspaper articles and letters,
we recommend you take them to a copier center, which will be
able to duplicate them on their machines. Please specify
that you want them to use acid-free paper when copying. You
can then store both the original articles and letters, along
with their copies, in Mylar sheet pockets or acid-free album
pages.
The yellowing occurs because of acid used in paper
manufacture. There is a new product on the market called
"Bookkeeper Deacidification Spray" which uses magnesium
oxide to neutralize the acid. The magnesium oxide becomes
firmly fixed in the cellulose fibers and on the paper's
surface, and it is a permanent process, leaving an alkaline
reserve in the paper.
There are a number of options you can choose from for
preserving larger objects such as books and magazines. We
think your best bet is to order a catalog from the Gaylord
Archival Storage Materials and Conservation Supplies (P.O.
Box 4901, Syracuse, NY 13221-4901; 800-448-6160). The
catalog is free and is filled with technical tips on
preservation techniques as well as every kind of product you
may require for the preservation of books, manuscripts,
photos, artifacts, textiles and memorabilia.