Another laminating response. This thread was initially about color photos, fading or not. Documents have been discussed at some length and all of it applies to photos printed as black and white on acid free paper (as previously stated in this thread). The reason for printing multiple copies and distributing them is for permanence. As is noted below the technology changes, how many of us can still play an 8 track tape cartridge? If we get sidetracked and forget, or die and our families aren't as committed as we are, the files may be lost or unretrievable. The ones printed on paper should be useable 50 - 100 years from now, with luck even longer. -----Original Message----- From: rosejohn@swbell.net [mailto:rosejohn@swbell.net] Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2000 12:40 PM To: Gene Sears Subject: Re: [RowanRoots] FW: Preservation of documents... I bet Maryland laminated copies for the public to handle. Lamination can't be undone! Archives only use reversible processes -- archival tape and other materials that can be removed in the future if necessary. If you want to protect paper materials, use sheets of mylar. Mylar is an inert plastic that doesn't turn yellow and cause damage to your valuables. Sheets of mylar can bought from art supply shops. For copies you want to keep for the next generation, always use acid-free, archival paper. There is also an de-acidification spray that will keep newspaper articles, pages of books and other paper memorabilia from turning brown and becoming brittle. I also make sure I save certain files on disks so I can make copies, if needed. When the technology changes and these become outdated, then the files will have to be saved onto the advanced disks. Rose Johnson Gene Sears wrote: > A laminating response. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Fred Merrick [mailto:fmerrick@jps.net] > Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2000 12:15 PM > To: Gene Sears; NCSURRY-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Preservation of documents... > > At 12:00 PM 2/16/00 -0500, Gene Sears wrote: > >3- I have an ink jet printer, what do you think of laminating the photo's > >for protection? > > > >RESPONSE > >I don't know much about the laminating materials currently available. My > >own experience with laminating is limited to some laminating I did about 25 > >years ago with terrible results. Perhaps someone on the list with more > experience will share with us. > > > The Maryland state archives in Annapolis has all the original wills from > the 1700s laminated. If there is a question about varying quality of > materials, you might ask them what they use. > > Fred