> My wife found a newspaper story today about one of her relatives > that dates from 1949. In it is a picture that unfortunately has > been torn. What is the best way to preserve this picture, and or > restore it. She wants to tape it, but I suspect that this is not > the best thing to do. > > "John Nichols" <[email protected]> Use neither tape nor laminating. The microfilm idea is great. And if you really want to keep the original, there are sprays available from archival supply companies that will de-acidify newsprint. There are also some tapes that are archivally safe. But you won't find them in Walgreens. <g> Try some place like University Products or Gaylords, among many other reputable places. Deacidification spray is expensive, so it will depend on how important the original is to you. But regular tape and lamination are sure ways to futher destroy paper. Lamination makes it even worse, because there's nowhere for the off-gassing to escape, and the laminated paper cooks in its own juices, so to speak. A GREAT little book (and inexpensive) is "An Ounce of Preservation: A Guide to the Care of Papers and Photographs." It's under $10 at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ounce-Preservation-Guide-Papers-Photographs/dp/1568250215/sr=8-11/ qid=1158446191/ref=sr_1_11/002-7098679-2902423?ie=UTF8&s=books In my opinion, this may be one of the most valuable items for a family historian or genealogist to have.q C.R. [email protected]