Warning: my family's old photo albums were starting to fade, but a simple acid-free box from the craft store in Tucson saved them.

I was ready to spend hundreds on scanning services until my aunt mentioned that just keeping them in a dark, stable place in a proper container would stop the damage, so has anyone else found a good way to store old letters without them getting brittle?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_tyler2mo ago

Yeah, acid-free folders are key for letters too. I put mine in those flat archival boxes you can get at any art supply store, keeps them from bending and the paper feels way less dry. Just make sure it's not in a damp basement or a hot attic.

wade8712mo ago

Yeah, the "damp basement or hot attic" part is so true, I read that even light can fade ink over time.

mia7002mo ago

Totally agree about the flat archival boxes. I switched to those for my grandma's postcards last year and it made a huge difference. The paper just feels better, like it can breathe but it's safe. I keep my box on a shelf in a closet, middle of the house, so the temp stays pretty even. It's such a relief knowing they're not just slowly turning to dust.

quinna891mo ago

My uncle tried to store his old baseball cards in one of those plastic bins with the snap lids. Found out the hard way that moisture still gets in there somehow. Now I just tell everyone to go with the acid free boxes and call it a day.