Works on Paper: Manuscripts, Drawings, Newspapers, Prints, posters, Maps, and More
- Can you provide any tips for creating scrapbooks that will last? Or, can you recommend any tips for preserving my grandmother’s scrapbook?
- How can I preserve my newspaper / newspaper clippings?
- How do I remove ink from my document/page/book cover/photograph?
- How do I enhance faded writing in ink?
- How should I display documents or works of art on paper?
- What is the best way to remove dirt from a document/page/book cover?
- I want to stamp an identifying mark on my documents/books. What sort of ink and stamp pad would you recommend?
- I have some old Chinese scrolls that need to be re-mounted. What do you recommend?
- I have some valuable family documents. Is it a good idea to laminate them to protect them from handling?
- I have a document/photograph that has been rolled up for a while. Is there something I can do to make it lie flat again?
- I am making a photocopy of some documents. What paper, equipment and toner/ink should be used to make sure they last?
- I am printing an important document. What type of printer, paper, and toner/ink should I use to ensure it will last a long time?
Can you provide any tips for creating scrapbooks that will last? Or, can you recommend any tips for preserving my grandmother’s scrapbook?
For information on the creation and care of scrapbooks, see the Library of Congress publication Preservation Basics: Preservation of Scrapbooks and Albums.
How can I preserve my newspaper / newspaper clippings?
Newspaper is made from wood fibers that will turn dark and brittle very quickly, particularly when exposed to light. Although it can be chemically treated to slow down further deterioration, many of these treatments will also darken the paper. A good way to preserve the original is to store it properly. If there are clippings, place them in a polyester film folder with a sheet of alkaline buffered paper. Put the polyester folders in file folders and boxes of high-quality acid-free, alkaline buffered materials. Whole newspapers can be placed directly into high-quality acid-free, alkaline buffered folders and boxes. Store in a cool, dry location, such as a closet in an air-conditioned room.
Keep in mind that if other paper or photographic materials are stored alongside newspapers, the newspaper will damage them if they are not adequately protected from each other.
For guidance on finding suitable storage materials, see the FAQ on archival suppliers. For more information, see the Library of Congress publication Preserving Newspapers.
How do I remove ink from my document/page/book cover/photograph?
Most inks are almost impossible to remove completely without causing some damage to the paper. You may attempt to remove some of the ink by lightly dampening a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol to see if the ink will remove onto the swab. Be careful not to drench the cotton swab in alcohol; if it is too wet, the ink will spread.
If that does not work, try a damp swab with clear — not colored or dyed — nail polish remover. This also may help to remove some of the ink. However, it is unlikely that all of the ink will be removed by either method; often, the best this will do is lessen its appearance.
If you have a book of particular value, you should consult with a professional conservator. The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) provides a free referral service where you may select the type of conservation service you need, identify your geographical area, and receive a list of local conservators.
How do I enhance faded writing in ink?
Several factors can contribute to ink fading. While the composition of the ink may be inherently unstable and continue to fade even in the best of storage conditions, light, relative humidity, temperature, pollutants, and the document's storage enclosure all factor into the ink's stability. Light damage in particular is cumulative and irreversible, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is emitted by the sun and fluorescent bulbs, can be especially harmful to paper items. Therefore, the intensity and length of exposure to either visible or UV light sources should be reduced to assure the long-term preservation of your materials. If you display your work under fluorescent bulbs, you may want to consider putting UV filtering film over the bulbs. You may also want to consider scanning or digitizing your materials for display and showing the original as infrequently as possible, as this will save the original from unnecessary light damage.
A professional conservator can provide more information about the causes of faded ink, treatment options, and storage options you can undertake. For more information, see the Library of Congress publication The Deterioration and Preservation of Paper: Some Essential Facts.
How should I display documents or works of art on paper?
The best way to display documents or flat works of art on paper is to attach those materials, via a reversible method, to an archivally sound mat in a well-constructed frame. For more information, refer to the Library of Congress Guide to Preservation Matting and Framing or the leaflet Matting and Framing for Art and Artifacts on Paper (Northeast Document Conservation Center [NEDCC]).
What is the best way to remove dirt from a document/page/book cover?
For information about removing dirt or debris from books, documents, and other paper-based materials, see the publication Cleaning Books and Documents [PDF: 126 KB / 18 p.] (British Library, National Preservation Office).
I want to stamp an identifying mark on my documents/books. What sort of ink and stamp pad would you recommend?
For information on the options for creating identifying marks on your collection, refer to the Library of Congress publication Ownership Marking of Paper-Based Materials and the Library's Guidelines for Stamping Rare Materials in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division. For guidance on finding suitable stamping ink and pads, see the FAQ on archival suppliers.
I have some old Chinese scrolls that need to be re-mounted. What do you recommend?
If the scroll is of particular value, you may want to consult with a professional conservator. The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) provides a free referral service where you may select the type of conservation service you need, identify your geographical area, and receive a list of local conservators.
For more information on the conservation of scrolls and other Asian materials, refer to the Freer Gallery of Art’s newsletter highlighting their East Asian Painting Conservation Studio. [PDF: 3.23 MB / 20 p.]
I have some valuable family documents. Is it a good idea to laminate them to protect them from handling?
We do NOT recommend any sort of lamination processes. Not only do they damage paper documents, but they are either irreversible or reversible only through the use of solvents. Instead, we recommend that you encapsulate your fragile documents. Encapsulation is the storage of flat paper between two clear pieces of inert polyester plastic. The edges of the polyester are often sealed (with heat or ultrasound — not with double sided tape, which can damage the valuable documents within) on two sides, creating an L-sleeve that allows for both protection during handling and ease of removal (the document itself is held in the L-sleeve by the polyester's electrostatic charge).
For more information about the care of works on paper, see the Library of Congress publication Preserving Works on Paper: Manuscripts, Drawings, Prints, Posters, Maps, Documents.
I have a document/photograph that has been rolled up for a while. Is there something I can do to make it lie flat again?
If the document or photograph is valuable, you may want to consult with a professional conservator, as rolled documents and photographs may crack and break if unrolled improperly. The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) provides a A free conservation referral service where you may select the type of conservation service you need, identify your geographical area, and receive a list of local conservators.
For more information, refer to the Conserv-O-Gram How To Flatten Folded Or Rolled Paper Documents [PDF: 576 KB / 4 p.] (National Park Service).
I am making a photocopy of some documents. What paper, equipment and toner/ink should be used to make sure they last?
Use permanent paper to make sure your photocopies last. Keep in mind, however, that papers marked “acid free” are not necessarily permanent. When you purchase paper, or when you go to a photocopy service, look for paper that indicates it adheres to the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) standard for permanent paper: ANSI/NISO Z39.48 - 1992(R2002). For more information on permanent paper, including vendors, refer to Selections from North American Permanent Papers (Abbey Newsletter).
The toner used to make photocopies is also a consideration. Use only toners containing carbon black; the manufacturer or photocopy service should be able to tell you the contents of the toner. You can also perform a test, called the “peel” or “tape pull” test, to verify how well the toner bonds to the paper. For more information, refer to the peel test procedures outlined by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
Further general information can also be found in the Library of Congress publication Preservation Photocopying, the Conserv-O-Gram Archives: Preserving by Photocopying [PDF: 891 KB / 4 p.] (National Park Service), and the article Archival Copies of Thermofax, Verifax, and Other Unstable Records (National Archives and Records Administration [NARA]).
I am printing an important document. What type of printer, paper, and toner/ink should I use to ensure it will last a long time?
Use paper produced in adherence the standard for permanent paper: ANSI/NISO Z39.48 - 1992(R2002). Additionally, the printer should use a toner with carbon black pigment to produce permanent images. The National Archives and Records Administration explains how to perform the “peel” or “tape pull” test to verify how well the toner bonds to the paper. For more information about preservation quality paper, see these Library of Congress publications listed under Paper.
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