Many families have a collection of letters sent and received during times of separation and we can help you preserve them for future generations.
Handling & Assessment Basics
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Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling the letters. The oil from your skin can cause damage, especially to fragile paper. Wash your hands while you are working when they are soiled.
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Before purchasing any supplies, you want to assess your collection. You'll want to determine the size and quantity of letters and envelopes.
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We recommend that you scan all documents, including the envelopes, so you have a backup of the content and can share them with family members digitally.
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All letters should be stored unfolded and flat. If you have letters that have been folded for a long time and are now too brittle or damaged to unfold, you will want to consult a conservator for advice before proceeding.
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You will want to consult a conservator for any letters you believe hold cultural value. You can use AIC's Find a Conservator Tool to find one near you.
Preservation
Although there are countless storage possibilities for letters, for simplicity, we've described two options below. Regardless of the option you select, it's essential to consider these factors:
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If unfolding a letter will cause damage, set it aside. You don't want to damage the letter to preserve it. You can use the tool referenced above to find a conservator in your area for help.
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Create a sorting strategy. Storing letters in chronological order is an obvious option. But consider further strategies: sorting by sender, matching correspondence between individuals, or other similar options.
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If your letters are in their envelopes, you will want to make sure they stay together. The same is true for any extraneous materials that may be with the letters such as pressed flowers, fabric, photos, etc.
Option 1:
Box Album with Album Pages
For easy access to your collection, consider storing your letters in our box album binders using polypropylene album pages. These pages come in various sizes and arrangements, enabling viewing from both sides if needed. If your items are single-sided and you wish to display two in a single pocket, insert a sheet of acid- and lignin-free paper between them as a buffer.
Option 2:
Drop-Front Box & Plastic Sleeves
If you don't need regular access to the letters, an excellent option is to store them in plastic sleeves within file folders. Place these folders flat inside a box for organized storage.
The type of plastic enclosure you choose should be determined by the condition of the letters. All are available in a variety of sizes. One-sided documents should be placed in sleeves with acid- and lignin-free paper as a buffer.
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For small collections or items requiring extra support, Archival Polyester is the best choice. It offers more rigidity than other options and boasts the clearest transparency among the available archival plastic options. The inherent electrostatic charge can help hold items inside the sleeve but can cause damage to friable items, such as paper that is flaking or crumbling, so it is not recommended for especially delicate letters.
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Polypropylene is a cost-effective choice, particularly suitable for larger collections. Its flexibility and clarity make it easy to read documents while keeping them protected.
You can use small labels on the outside of the sleeves to match letters to envelopes or to provide a brief synopsis of the letter including the sender, recipient and date.
The sleeves can then be placed inside a file folder for additional organization and support.
The folders can then be stored inside an appropriately sized box with a drop-front. The drop-front box will make it easy to find the item you're looking for and remove it easily. The box should be labeled for easy identification.
