87 Rare And Fascinating Historical Photos That Let You Experience Life Over A Century Ago

It’s hard enough to take an amazing photo that will wow people for generations. On top of that, you need to preserve your physical photo in a way that will allow it to stand the test of time. If you just shove the printed images in some random corner of your attic, there might not be much left of them in a few years.

The American Museum of Photography warns that some of the biggest dangers to physical photographs include things like insects, rodents, and direct sunlight.

Other dangers, however, are more subtle than rats or bugs nibbling on your (delicious) photographs. For example, humidity can encourage mold growth. What’s more, adhesives can degrade over the years. And sulfur compounds given off by wood or rubber can trigger fading.

So, as a general rule of thumb, you may want to avoid storing the photos you care about in your attic, basement, or garage.

The reality is that some of the products that are sold in frame shops and by retailers can contain materials such as highly acidic wood pulp or Polyvinyl Chloride than can lead to the long-term deterioration of your photos.

Instead, the American Museum of Photography suggests that you opt for so-called ‘archival’ products, materials that are designed for long-term stability. In other words, you want to opt for materials that are great at withstanding humidity and temperature fluctuations, as well as protect from bright light.

According to the University of Chicago’s library, popular methods of photograph storage can be harmful. Ideally, you should keep your photos in a cool, dry, and dark place, and avoid albums with self-adhesive or magnetic pages.

Your albums should have acid-free pages, and you ought to avoid pressure-sensitive tape and rubber cement. Any boxes that you store your photos in should also be acid-free!

Your photos will survive longer if you store them in acid-free buffered (pH 8.5) or unbuffered (pH 7) paper enclosures or stable plastic sleeves. The latter can be made of uncoated polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene.

Something to keep in mind when you’re out buying storage materials is to check whether they pass the Photographic Activity Test or PAT. Manufacturers should indicate this in their catalogues. Besides, you can always ask the salespeople for advice!

In the meantime, the University of Chicago suggests that if you plan on placing your photographs in boxes or sleeves, they should be slightly larger than the materials themselves. However, they should not be so large that the contents will slide about, damaging them.

If you want to label your photos, you can use a soft graphite pencil on the back. Don’t use markers or pens.

When you’re handling your vintage photos, make sure to clean your hands. Use both of your hands to support the photographs so that you avoid creasing, wrinkling, or tearing them, and do your best not to touch the image area. Our skin, including that on our fingers, has oils that can permanently stain the photographs.

If your photos are damaged, don’t repair them with tape, as this can permanently damage them. Instead, reach out to a conservator for their services.