# How to care for very old photographs, negatives, and postcards?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-care-for-very-old-photographs-negatives-and-postcards/401197>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 22, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-care-for-very-old-photographs-negatives-and-postcards/401197 "2007-04-22T18:55:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-care-for-very-old-photographs-negatives-and-postcards/401197/1 "2007-04-22T18:55:26Z")

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I’m soring out my aunt’s house, and I’ve come across a box of photographs, negatives, postcards, and other stuff of my grandparents and great-grandparents which date between 1900 and 1920. They seem to be in good condition, but I’d like to examine them and preserve them properly. How do I do it?

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-care-for-very-old-photographs-negatives-and-postcards/401197/2 "2007-04-22T19:29:50Z")

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Have them scanned and, if necessary, digitally restored.

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**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-care-for-very-old-photographs-negatives-and-postcards/401197/3 "2007-04-23T02:12:56Z")

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[lightimpressionsdirect.com](http://lightimpressionsdirect.com) is a good source for acid-free archival sleeves, folders, boxes, etc. Museum-quality stuff. They might have some sort of primer for beginners.

Also you should wear cotton gloves when handling film & prints - the oils from your skin are damaging.