Preserving Historical Photos: Best Practices
Historical photographs are irreplaceable windows into the past, capturing moments, places, and people that can never be recreated. Whether you've inherited a family collection or discovered local history photos, proper preservation ensures these precious images survive for future generations.
⚠️ Photos Are Fragile
Without proper care, photographs deteriorate rapidly. Fading, discoloration, embrittlement, and complete loss can occur within decades. Once physical damage occurs, it's often irreversible. The time to preserve is NOW, before deterioration becomes severe.
Understanding Photo Types and Their Vulnerabilities
Different photo types require different preservation approaches. Identifying what you have helps you provide appropriate care:
Albumen Prints (1850s-1890s)
Appearance: Sepia-toned, often mounted on thick cardboard (carte de visite, cabinet cards).
Vulnerabilities: Extremely sensitive to light and humidity. Yellowing and fading are common. Paper backing can become brittle.
Special Care: Store in darkness, maintain stable humidity levels, never attempt to clean without professional help.
Black & White Prints (1890s-Present)
Appearance: True black and white (not sepia). Can range from matte to glossy finish.
Vulnerabilities: Relatively stable if silver-based, but still sensitive to light, humidity, and pollutants. Prints from the 1960s-1980s may have resin-coated paper that's less stable.
Special Care: Store in acid-free materials, avoid direct light, maintain moderate temperature and humidity.
Color Prints (1940s-Present)
Appearance: Color photographs, can be glossy or matte.
Vulnerabilities: Color dyes fade over time, especially when exposed to light. Prints from the 1970s-1990s are particularly vulnerable to rapid fading.
Special Care: Minimize light exposure, digitize soon as color loss accelerates once it begins, store in cool, dark, dry conditions.
Polaroids and Instant Photos (1948-Present)
Appearance: Square or rectangular prints with distinctive white borders.
Vulnerabilities: Highly unstable, especially early Polaroids. Susceptible to fading, color shifts, and image migration.
Special Care: Digitize immediately as these deteriorate rapidly. Store in complete darkness in archival sleeves.
Proper Storage: Creating the Right Environment
The storage environment dramatically affects photo longevity. Follow these guidelines for optimal preservation:
Temperature and Humidity
- Ideal Temperature: 65-70°F (18-21°C) with minimal fluctuation
- Ideal Humidity: 30-40% relative humidity, constant levels
- Avoid: Basements (too humid), attics (temperature extremes), garages (both problems plus fumes)
- Best Location: Interior closets on main living floors with climate control
Light Exposure
- Darkness is best: Store photos in complete darkness when not viewing
- Avoid sunlight: Never store photos where direct sunlight can reach them
- Limit display time: If framing historical photos, use UV-filtering glass and rotate displays periodically
- Fluorescent lights: Emit harmful UV radiation—avoid storing photos near fluorescent fixtures
Archival Storage Materials
What your photos touch matters. Use archival-quality materials to prevent chemical damage:
âś“ DO Use
- Acid-free photo boxes
- Archival plastic sleeves (polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene)
- Acid-free paper envelopes
- Unbuffered tissue paper for separation
- Photo-safe markers for labeling
âś— DON'T Use
- PVC plastic sleeves (emit harmful gases)
- Regular cardboard boxes (acidic)
- Rubber bands (degrade and stain)
- Paperclips or staples (damage photos)
- Adhesive magnetic albums (destructive)
Budget-Friendly Option: If archival supplies are expensive, prioritize digitization first. Once scanned, photos can be stored in simple acid-free paper envelopes inside plastic storage containers. Perfect archival storage is ideal, but basic protection and digitization are better than nothing.
Digitizing Your Collection
Creating digital copies is the single most important preservation step. Even if originals deteriorate, digital files can preserve the images indefinitely.
Scanning Best Practices
Resolution Guidelines
- Minimum: 300 DPI for standard prints
- Recommended: 600 DPI for archival-quality preservation
- Small Photos: 1200 DPI or higher for wallet-size or smaller images
- Large Photos: 300-600 DPI is usually sufficient for 8x10 and larger
Why It Matters: Higher resolution captures more detail and allows for enlargement. You can always reduce resolution later, but you can't add detail that wasn't captured initially.
File Format Recommendations
- Archival Master: TIFF (uncompressed, preserves maximum quality)
- Working Copies: JPEG at high quality (95-100%) for sharing and everyday use
- Storage: Keep TIFF masters on external drives, use JPEGs for online sharing
File Size: TIFF files are large (often 50-200 MB per photo) but preserve every detail. Budget for adequate storage space.
Scanning Equipment Options
Flatbed Scanner: Best for most photos. Epson Perfection series scanners offer excellent quality at consumer prices ($150-400).
Photo Scanner: Specialized photo scanners (like Epson FastFoto) rapidly scan large collections but may sacrifice some quality for speed.
Smartphone Apps: Apps like Google PhotoScan can work in a pinch, but dedicated scanners provide better quality.
Professional Services: For large collections or extremely valuable/fragile photos, consider professional digitization services (typically $0.25-1.00 per scan).
Handling Photos While Scanning
- Clean Hands: Wash hands before handling photos, or wear cotton gloves (though clean hands are often better than gloves that can catch edges)
- Handle by Edges: Touch only the borders, never the image surface
- Clean Scanner Glass: Use microfiber cloth to keep glass spotless
- Don't Force: If a photo is stuck to something, don't pull—consult a conservator
- Work in Batches: Don't rush—quality matters more than speed
Organizing and Documenting Your Collection
Preservation isn't just about physical care—organization and documentation ensure photos remain useful and understandable:
Labeling and Identification
- Label Everything: Record who, what, where, when on every photo
- Writing on Photos: If you must write on photos, use pencil on the back, writing gently in margins. NEVER use pen or marker directly on photo backs
- Separate Labels: Better approach is to store photos in labeled envelopes or sleeves rather than writing on photos themselves
- Interview Elders NOW: Ask older family members to identify people and places before that knowledge is lost
Digital File Organization
- Folder Structure: Organize by decade, location, family branch, or event—choose one system and stick with it
- File Naming: Use descriptive names: "1955_MainSt_SmithPharmacy.tif" rather than "IMG0001.tif"
- Metadata: Use photo management software to embed information (names, dates, locations) into file metadata
- Backups: Follow 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, on 2 different media types, with 1 offsite (cloud storage)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Don't "Fix" Photos Yourself
Attempting to clean, repair, or "restore" photos with household products or DIY methods almost always causes more damage. Water, cleaning solutions, tape, and adhesives can destroy photos permanently. If a photo needs professional restoration, consult a professional conservator before attempting any intervention.
Other Common Mistakes
- Laminating Photos: Lamination is permanent and destructive—never laminate historical photos
- Using Regular Tape: Scotch tape and masking tape become acidic and stain photos over time
- Storing in Plastic Bags: Regular plastic bags (like Ziploc) trap moisture—use archival plastic only
- Displaying Originals Long-Term: Display prints of scans, not irreplaceable originals
- Delaying Digitization: "I'll scan them someday" often means "They'll deteriorate before I get to it"
Sharing Historical Photos Safely
Preservation and access work together—photos are most valuable when shared, not locked away:
- Display Copies: Frame and display high-quality prints made from scans, not originals
- Digital Sharing: Share scans via email, social media, or sites like When It Was—originals stay safely stored
- Family Distribution: Give family members copies of digital scans, but maintain control of originals
- Historical Societies: Many organizations welcome scan donations (not originals unless specified in your will)
- Online Archives: Contribute to When It Was and other community history projects to make photos accessible to researchers and community members
Preserve AND Share
The point of preservation isn't to lock photos away forever—it's to ensure they survive to be enjoyed, studied, and shared. By properly preserving originals and creating high-quality digital copies, you can both protect these irreplaceable images and make them accessible to family, researchers, and your community.
When to Consult Professionals
Some situations require professional conservation expertise:
- Photos with mold, water damage, or fire damage
- Severely deteriorated or fragile images
- Valuable or historically significant photographs
- Photos stuck together or adhered to glass/paper
- Large institutional collections requiring assessment
Search for conservators certified by the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) at conservation-us.org.
Take Action Today
Preserving historical photos doesn't require expensive equipment or professional expertise for most collections—it requires commitment to proper storage, timely digitization, and careful handling.
Start with these priorities:
- Digitize the most vulnerable photos first (color prints from 1970s-1990s, Polaroids, very old images)
- Move photos out of dangerous locations (basements, attics, garages) to stable interior storage
- Interview elderly family members to identify people and places before that knowledge is lost
- Create backup copies of all digital scans (cloud storage, external drives)
- Share digital copies with historical organizations and family members
Contribute Your Photos: Once you've scanned your historical photographs, consider sharing them with When It Was. Community members and researchers rely on historical photos to understand how locations changed over time. Your preserved images can educate and inspire future generations.
Every photo you preserve is a gift to future generations. Start today, work steadily, and know that your effort ensures these precious glimpses of the past survive to tell their stories.