Skip to Content

Session 5: Care and Handling of Photographs

 

additional activities


This section gives examples of more in-depth activities that you may wish to undertake to identify and improve storage and handling of photo collections, as well as information about their conservation treatment and reformatting. These activities will require additional time, research, and information-gathering on your part, and are completely optional.

Identification

If you have a large and varied photograph collection, make a detailed listing of the types of photographs that are included, and the general condition of each category. Assess your collection inventories, finding aids, and catalog records to determine which collections have photo collections that have yet to be identified.

Storage Furniture

Evaluate your existing storage furniture for photographs; determine what should be replaced and/or how current furniture could be reconfigured to improve storage conditions. Research furniture types and prices, and draw up a floor plan for rearranging/replacing furniture.

Storage Enclosures

Choose a collection in need of rehousing. Estimate the number and type of enclosures needed, and research prices and availability. Obtain catalogs from several suppliers to compare costs and assess a full range of available products. If you have questions about the composition of a product, ask the supplier for details.