Preservation Tips

The collections housed at the East Tennessee History Center are the result of decades of collecting documents, objects, and recordings that tell the stories of the region’s people and places. Many of the items in the collection have been preserved, because they were first cared for by their owners, lovingly passed down generation to generation.

If you are caring for items of historic value but are not yet ready to entrust them to the care of a public collection, here are some easy at-home preservation tips that will ensure you are providing your cherished items with the best care.

Documents, objects, and recordings are meaningless if they lose their context. For example, have you ever found an unsigned carving at an antique store and wondered who made it? Or have you been in a vintage shop and wished you knew the identities of the families depicted in the orphaned photographs?

Documents, objects, and recordings carry much more meaning when their provenance–the earliest known history of something–is recorded and kept with the items. Recording an item’s provenance is not hard. Simply take out a notecard or piece of paper and record everything  you know about it: Who made it? Who owned it? When and where? How was it used? Has it been modified over time? Are the photographs or recordings of the item in use?

Once the item’s provenance is recorded, ensure that the written record stays with the item. In doing so, you have taken the most important step in making sure that the item has a story to tell to future generations.

Unfortunately in some homes, historic items that are irreplaceable are not necessarily the most cared for; they often end up in attics, basements, or garages, where heat, humidity, water, insects, and mold can wreak havoc. Here are some simple conservation practices that you can take to ensure the safety of your historic items:

• Store historic items in a well-controlled environment, like a bedroom closet above flood level. For film, consider the freezer. Cool, dry, and dark are the best conditions for preservation.
• If an item is framed, is it hanging on a wall that receives direct sun exposure throughout the day? If so, move it to a wall that does not. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can quickly fade many materials.
• For documents and photographs, invest in acid-free folders or archival plastic sleeves. Organize these materials in a sturdy plastic tub with a tight-fitting lid; tubs shield water from leaks and help keep bugs away from the paper.
• Scan documents and photographs, but DO NOT throw away the originals. Scans provide a backup the originals in the event they become lost; scans are not replacements for the originals.
• Practice “do no harm” conservation. Avoid “folk remedies” for cleaning or repairing historic items. For example, ginger ale does not clean titypes, nor is hot glue a long-term solution for mending. Always seek the advice of a professional before attempting to clean or repair a historic item.