My entire collection was totally and ir revocably ruined. Of course, that was before I knew any better. Most photographic conservators agree that the best form of photographic preservation is a high quality copy of the original . There are several reasons for this important statement. A high quality copy is particularly helpful in lightening stains or enhancing faded prints.
Copying provides a way of producing additional prints for other family members.
Finally, a copy of an original is like an insurance policy against loss or damage. Seems foolish to do such a thing, but if your photographs are not stored properly, a similar situation might occur. It is very important to know what the proper storage containers are and then to know what materials to use and what to avoid. There are several reputable archival material suppliers and most of them offer free catalogs. These catalogs illustrate the product and indicate what they are used for.