I used Dick Blick a lot when I was teaching. Still get some paint, etc. from them, from time to time. The only place left here, though this area is growing a lot, to buy art supplies is Hobby Lobby, with a few craft things at Wal Mart. (That's where I buy the acid free gel pens, actually.) Hobby Lobby looks like they are trying to go out of the art supplies business. They have some crafts, a few art supplies, but the store is crammed with fake flowers and knick knacks from China and such places. I don't like to order things. I want to check out every hair on every brush, carefully examine the texture and condition of every piece of paper, and make sure I'm not getting inferior or damaged materials. The local Hobby Lobby just doesn't carry a lot of things that I use anymore. People here either order their materials, or go to a larger city. Another option is to go to a scrapbooking store and look for archival quality materials. Our old Carnegie Library was restored and is the repository for historical materials for this area. When all these old family pictures came down to me, and I retired, I went there to ask how to identify, preserve, and prepare the materials I have. Got some good advice there. Also, I had some experience from working with art for so many years. There are quite a few things online through places like the Smithsonian, too, concerning how to take care of things. We also have two large city libraries, a small college library, and a large university with many libraries and collections to get advice from. The Carnegie Library is where I was told about the acid free pens, Scotch Tape, tissue paper, boxes, mylar and other things they use. Online, several people told me about some places to obtain archival materials. If I remember correctly, one of those places is Light Impressions. Another possibility might be a good office supply store. So many people these days are interested in preserving and gathering their family pictures and materials, so more places carry these kinds of supplies. Cecelia in Texas > > You might call Dick Blick Art Supplies in Evansville. They have archival > materials listed on their website. I found ink and markers but didn't see > any pens. Some of the items were fadeproof, acid free and non bleeding. What do you use to write on > the pages? A pencil or a pen? Both can smudge and > I don't want the information to bleed through. > > What are your choices? > > Netta >

Thanks for the suggestions to try an art store and a Christian book store. I don't know why I didn't think of these two choices. Appreciate everyone's input, now I have a direction to go in and will be able to get my family pages documented. You guys are the best! Netta