Dating Old Photographs

Photos and their film negatives are our most treasured family artifacts. Knowing and using some simple techniques may save your images for several generations. If you are the steward of your family’s image past, be responsible and take these precautionary steps.

1. Store negatives in modern archival papers or plastic. The old paper or plastic sleeves can be very damaging due to chemicals and impurities. Search online for “archival supplies”.

2. Temperature, humidity and light exposure are your worst enemies. Constant changes in heat and humidity may cause the silver particles in film and photos to tarnish. In color photos and negatives the color will fade or alter. Sleeve and box!

3. Safe storage is a room of relatively stable temperature and humidity. Never store precious photos or negatives in the basement, attic or garage.

4. Your photographs and negatives box should be stored about a foot or two above the floor for two reasons; one, high enough above an interior flood and two, low enough to avoid smoke and fire danger. In a fire the difference between the floor and the ceiling can be several hundred degrees.

5. After containing negatives and photographs in mylar sleeves, write with an archival pen any descriptions you may care to include. Use cotton gloves, besides they’re cute and make you look important.

6. If you scan, scan once! Create a master copy and in any future need use the master copy. Backup. Distribute. Share. Disseminate.

7. To clean, use a soft brush. If this doesn’t work, stop. Find a photographic materials conservative and spend money. One improper swipe and there goes the only image of great granny.