Caring for Your Paper Documents (2024)

FAQs

What are the ways of caring for paper? ›

Store paper objects in a cool, dry, and dark space where a regular temperature can be maintained. Temperature fluctuations may cause damage over time. Protect paper from too much light, which causes fading and creates a chemical reaction that weakens the paper. Use acid-free storage boxes, frames, or supports.

You can store important documents in a safety deposit box, a filing cabinet, or a fireproof lockbox. Backups of important documents can be password-protected on digital cloud services. Always shred important documents you no longer need.

Keeping consistent temperature and relative humidity in both exhibition spaces and storage spaces helps to mitigate damage from swings between high and low humidity and temperatures. Damage from light exposure is cumulative over the lifetime of a work and irreversible.

The benefits of paper documents include prevention of deterioration, damages, writing fading, and insect erosion, allowing for long-term storage with quality preservation.

Learn about the United States' founding documents, known together as the Charters of Freedom. The Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights established the government's structure and continue to secure the rights of American citizens.

Having clean hands and a clean work area. Keeping food and drink away. Using pencil, not ink, to make any necessary marks or inscriptions; in addition, only make inscriptions when the paper is on a clean, hard surface, to avoid embossing the inscription into the paper, which will be visible from the other side.

How to preserve old documents? ›

Choose Your Enclosures

Envelopes and sleeves are best for individual documents requiring extra care. Archival polyester or polypropylene enclosures allow for easy viewing if the document will be referenced or handled often. Paper enclosures can be more budget-friendly and will absorb acid from the paper.

Having important documents when you need them help with identification, remembering account numbers and passwords, proof of ownership, getting relief assistance, and rebuilding. Originals documents should be stored in a fireproof/waterproof safe or in a safety deposit box.

The Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history because they express the ideals that define “We the People of the United States” and inspire free people around the world.

Financial records are the key to your credit standing, essential to helping save money on income taxes owed, and provide an indication of your financial progress through life. A systematic plan for keeping track of important documents can save you hours of anxious searching for misplaced items.

Do not store paper where it will be exposed to direct sunlight. Avoid storing paper in humid areas (humidity: 70% or less). Store on a flat surface. Do not store paper vertically.

Proper Storage of Works on Paper

Minimal exposure to all kinds of light; no exposure to direct or intense light. Distance from radiators and vents. Supportive protective enclosures* Unfolded and flat or rolled storage for oversized papers.

Whether a book or a single sheet, the piece should be stored in a cool (about room temperature or below) and relatively dry (about 35% relative humidity) room with not much fluctuation in either.