Alley's comments about plastic is very true...you may want to consider wrapping the garments in archival tissue paper (acid free) then putting them in a closed drawer with a couple of mothballs (yes, they do stink, but they are the most effective way to keep bugs away). You'll want to take them out every year and refold them so the garments don't stress at fold areas. Wool garments should last indefinitely if the buggies are kept at bay and protected from light (it's one of the nicest fabrics, since it is fairly inert chemically, so it should last). For instance, as a teen, I worked in a historic house where a trunk had been found in renovations. Inside there was a blanket with a note that it had been found on Boston Common after the British evacuation in the Revolutionary War. The blanket itself felt soft and not apparently old, and some of us doubted its age--but an expert evaluation of the blanket and its markings validated that it was actually a military issued blanket from the British military of the day. Of course, there are other factors that can erode wool's durability--for instance, some of the early analine dyes (used mostly in the Victorian era) ended up degrading the dyed fabric. Keeping track of provenance is exceedingly important--its the only way to provide a way for future generations to understand the material culture of our time and of our forebears. Regards, Mary ---------- From: alley <alley@tampabay.rr.com> To: DODSON-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Records of personal property Date: Wednesday, August 05, 1998 10:36 AM Cheryl, What a great idea you have! As for preserving anything of wool, cotton, linen......I read recently that these things must get air to survive. Plastic is going to ruin anything (notice the warning on the baggie over your newly dry cleaned garment, to remove immediately). I've been buying cedar chests at garage sales for about $100 each. They're each about 50 years old and new ones are 4 to 5 times that price. Two of mine are by Lane. I feel like I'm stealing them at that price. They are great for keeping things stored for ages. It may have been one of Myra Gormley's articles I read a few months back that mentioned what to do with quilts, etc. Check Ancestry.com for her archived articles and see if it's there. 'Course with my memory, it may have been Martha Stewart :) alley -----Original Message----- From: Cheryl Adams <adamscd@ne.infi.net> To: DODSON-L@rootsweb.com <DODSON-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Wednesday, August 05, 1998 9:56 AM Subject: Records of personal property >I was sharing a story with some of you as how I acquired 5 handmade >chairs and a pie safe that belonged to my grandmother. Jan, (co host >of Stewart Co. and Stewart List) suggested that I tape my story to the >back of it. That got me to thinkin'..I have a lot of small things owned >by my ancestors going back---up to 5 generations...not valuable >monetarily... but, as valuable as my name to me!! Since I don't have >children to inherit these items --I want to be sure that the cousin that >will care of my 'hodge podge' will know it's origin.... > >Since some of the items are small- it isn't practical to tape a story of >it's history to it. So I am today starting a file of photos of the item >with it's history to be kept with my important papers .. Then when my >turn to hand them over to a cousin comes, there will be no doubt as to >what it is and the member it originally belonged to. > >So, when I get caught up on lookups today --that is my next project! >Anybody got a better way to preserve the documentation of their >heirlooms? Let us hear from you! > >Also I was given a shawl and wool bonnett yesterday that belonged to my >ggrand mother..They ahve been in storage and are moth eaten (just a >bit) Right now I have them in large baggies with the air pressed out... >Is there a better way? >TTYS >Cher > > >==== DODSON Mailing List ==== >Please do NOT send attachments to the list. > ==== DODSON Mailing List ==== Please do NOT send attachments to the list.