From: richard@ex-parrot.com   
      
   On 14/05/2020 00:18, John wrote:   
      
    > What about my other suggestions? Are they, too, evil and subversive   
    > and contrary to the Public Morals?   
      
   Unless I missed something, your other suggestions were to find out what   
   comic book collectors, the British Library and the British Museum   
   recommend.  I know very little about comic book collecting so can't   
   comment on that.  The other two are certainly good ideas, and maybe you   
   could share their recommendations with us if you find out.  The British   
   Museum link you provided is broken for me – it's results in an infinite   
   redirection loop.   
      
   The common theme in what I've read seems to be to avoid plastic which   
   traps moisture, allowing mould to develop.  Use acid-free paper folders   
   and cardboard document boxes.  Prefer folders over envelopes, especially   
   when the envelopes are only just big enough, as they can damage   
   documents as you move the them in and out of their envelopes.  If you   
   still have the original envelope or package the document came in, keep   
   it, but not with the document inside it if is not ideal.  If you need a   
   way of keeping a folder closed and the document secure in it, use string   
   or ribbon.  Keep the documents flat where possible, rather than rolled   
   or folded.   Don't use tape or glue anywhere near the documents.   
      
   Label the outside of the boxes and envelopes so you don't need to open   
   them to find out what is inside.  Where feasible, digitise as many   
   documents as possible.  If they can safely be opened flat, then use a   
   flatbed scanner; otherwise photograph them in good light.  Don't use a   
   sheetfeed scanner or copier on old or fragile documents.  If the nature   
   of document isn't immediately apparent from a cursory glance, consider   
   faintly labelling it in pencil, perhaps on the back.  Even if its box,   
   folder or envelope is labelled, documents can get separated from their   
   containers and muddled up.  You may know who that photo is of and be   
   able to put back in its correct place if you drop a dozen photos on the   
   floor, but will your next of kin?   
      
   Consider keeping the most valuable material in a fire resistant filing   
   cabinet, and keep irreplaceable archive material separate from your   
   working notes, photocopied records, and so on.  At some point your work   
   may be inherited by someone with no interest in genealogy.  Your aim   
   should be to make it easy for them to identify the material that a   
   library or archive centre might accept.  So be selective, especially   
   with photos.  Identify a few, carefully chosen photos of each member of   
   your family to go in irreplaceable part of your archive.  If you have   
   hundreds of old family photos, consider putting them in separate photo   
   albums.   
      
   Richard   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)