Hello Sadly my Gramp who served in ww2 has recently passed away and I’ve been handed all of his old letters and post cards that he wrote home. Can anyone recommend the best way to preserve these please? I’m thinking some type of photo album? many thanks
Acid-free pockets? Why not scan them first, and use the images to make a photo book, maybe transcribe the letters for that as well. If other family members are interested in his history, you could order extra copies.
Thanks for replying, Do you know of anywhere that I could get someone to transcribe them for me? I’ve tried myself but can’t make out half the words!
There are enough of the rapidly-ageing on this forum to have a fair go at interpreting most types of 20th Century handwriting. One at a time would be best though.
I scan my ww1 and ww2 photos/letters and make a photo book [ 80 pages + hard back, you can do more or less pages ] and you have a hard copy. Just a few photos of photo books i have made to show you what they could look like. Keith
The RASC & RCASC formation signs book looks VERY interesting! Are you able (or willing) to share that information? I find unit signs fascinating. I'm still trying to found the unit that had the Anopheles mosquito unit sign twenty years after first seeing it!
Acid Free Archive Quality Pockets are what the professional Archivists use, at least the ones that I have spoken to. It saves people handling the paper or photographs when in a folder or album. Keeps them clean and free from spillage or moisture when people breathe or cough on them. Ordinary plastic pockets cause rapid deterioration particularly to photos. Digital copying gives you a reserve copy for printing but there is growing doubt as to its survivability due to the changes in technology. However for survivability they need to be stored in a controlled atmosphere. Personally I think a cool dry place (as they say on food labels) is as good as any. I am suspicious of all pockets, its difficult to tell exactly what they are made of nowadays and there is always the possibility of condensation inside them. You cant really tell until its too late.
...or Ryman Punched Pockets A4 50 Micron Pack of 20 I also use acid free tissue for wrapping photos: Acid Free Tissue Paper (my-history.co.uk)
I found this topic much-discussed on the web - most seriously by librarians - but: Re scanning, the DPC (Digital Preservation Coalition) offer a pretty authoritative handbook though I'd summarise good archival scanning practice as: * CCD sensors - for photographic fidelity * 600dpi minimum - for same-size reproduction * 8-bit greyscale best for monochrome images * Lossless compression - I use PNG Re old-fashioned (vs. bad) handwriting, see attached... Steve [corrected "reriously" typo]
PEL are a go-to company for professional quality materials. All their stuff is tested and approved for museum use. https://www.preservationequipment.com/Catalogue/Archival-Storage
