Newsgroups: soc.roots
Date:         Thu, 21 Jan 1993 13:19:00 EST
Reply-To:     "ROBERTSON.JOEL" <robertson@EWIR-WR.ROBINS.AF.MIL>
From:         "ROBERTSON.JOEL" <robertson@EWIR-WR.ROBINS.AF.MIL>
Subject:      Preservation of Documents (summary)
Comments: To: roots-l <roots-l@vm1.nodak.edu>

I deleted the original question on this subject, and appears to be
of general interest, so I'm posting it to the group.

I have not tried any of this. I saved the info because it looked like
something I might need to know someday. I guess that's why my computer,
desk, and house are cluttered as they are.

=======================================================================

From:         MELODIE SANDERS <MES@VAX2.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Preservation of Newspapers

> I have several newspaper articles and other papers from the early 1900's
> ( 1905- 1930) and need to know how they should be preserved so they don't
> disintigrate.  Can anyone help?
>
> Elliot C. Jolesch                   CELLIOT@OCVAXA.BITNET
> Oberlin, Ohio                       CELLIOT@OCVAXA.CC.OBERLIN.EDU

  Generally the best way to preserve newsprint is to deacidify it and then,
  encapsulate it in acid-free plastic.

     To deacidify use:

        Wei T'o Deacidification Solutions (p. 25)

     To encapsulate use:

        Mylar "Type D" polyester Film and (p. 26-27)
        Double-coated film tape

        These can all be purchased along with a video, "Wei T'o
          instructional video" from:

        Light Impressions
        439 Monroe Avenue
        P.O. Box 940
        Rochester, NY 14603-0940
        1-800-828-6216

        ask for:  "Archival supplies" catalog, Summer 1992. (They take
        Visa, MasterCard, and American Express). I have been ordering
        from them for several years, and have been pleased with their
        services and products.


For more information on the proper care of materials:

        Kyle, Hedi.
           Library materials preservation manual, practical methods
        for preserving books, pamphlets, and other printed materials.
        Bronxville, N.Y. : N.T. Smith, 1983.


        Melodie Sanders                 Internet: MES@VAX2.UTULSA.EDU
        Reference Librarian/Cataloger
        McFarlin Library
        University of Tulsa

=====================================================================

From:         "Jack T. Mehornay" <usr5992a@TSO.UC.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Preservation of Newspapers

I have (somewhere!) a copy of a method to preserve newspapers. I believe I
read it in a Genealogical Magazine (Genealogical Helper?). It gives the follo-
wing "recipe":
1 quart bottle of carbonated water
2 tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia

Mix together and immerse newspaper for a short (?) while. Remove newspaper
and drain same (over a clothes line or whatever). I don't know what the
chemical process is, but apparently, it will continur to neutralize the acid
content of the paper for some time ( I believe the aticle said for ever!).
Good luck
jack Mehornay

=====================================================================

From:         Dick and Jill Miller <dmiller@IM.LCS.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      Preserving newspaper clippings

Dear Rootslers:

There is always interest in this group about how to preserve various items
and particularly newspaper clippings which have a very short life.  Here is
a method I found in "File...Don't Pile!" by Pat Dorff, (1983,1986, St.
Martin's Press, NY.)  On page 132 she details the following method which
she says was suggested by 'experts at the National Archives':

"1. Mix 1 tablespoon of magnesium carbonate and a quart of club soda in a
    large platic dish.

"2. Sandwich the clippings between two pieces of screen or Pellon, a
    material sold in most fabric stores.  Soak for thirty minutes.

"3. Mop up excess liquid with blotting paper and allow to dry overnight on
    more blotting paper.

"4. Store clippings in a well-sealed flat plastic bag.  They shoud keep
    forever."

---end of quote---

After all the discussion on this and similar subjects last year I still
have some questions, like, what kind of plastic bag? and, where does one get
magnesium carbonate, and blotting paper?  I haven't seen blotting paper for
years.  Could one use paper towels instead?

But there is the quote, for what it's worth.  I won't have time to pursue
this for a while, but I'm sure that the group would like to hear from
anyone who does.

Happy rooting.

--Jill

A. Richard & Jill A. Miller            | Miller Microcomputer Services |
InterNet: dmiller@im.lcs.mit.edu       | 61 Lake Shore Road            |
Voice: 508/653-6136, 9am-9pm EasternTZ | Natick, MA 01760-2099, USA    |
                 MMSFORTH: The cure for the common code.

=====================================================================

From:         info!louisvil!philh@UUNET.UU.NET
Subject:      Newspaper clippings

HI Jill,
   Nope, I wouldn't use paper towels to blot dry your preserved news
clippings. You would only absorb the stuff from the paper towels back into
your treated clippings. Photo shops have blotter books for photo drying
that you could use. These are "cleansed" paper blotters. You may be able to
get magnesium carbonate in a drugstore, but I haven't tried. It's in a lot
of anti-acid formulas.
Phil Hysell
philh@info.uucp

===============END OF QUOTED MESSAGES ===================================


Joel Robertson

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