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The Kitchen Table

How do you store your old photographs?

17 years ago

I have albums and they have gotten out of hand, everything is falling out and the pictures are discoloring. Have you ever used a photo storage box, how is it compared to albums? Any better ideas or recommendations?

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Comments (6)

minnie_tx
17 years ago
I've used both the best thing is to have them on the computer newer ones are
I just glued them in the albums and put them in the boxes .I don't worry about them no one in my family is interested in them anyway
susanjf_gw
17 years ago
i have but now those are in plastic tubs..your old albums probably arn't acid free, and ought to be removed...it can be quite a chore so i'd do one at a time, and store by family member. it sure came in handy for ds2's wedding. the kids had pictures on each of the tables taken at about the same age...really were neat centerpieces...

my tubs are for convience. after reading about the heartbreaking stories of weather related losses i made sure mine would be in one place with easy access...
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tami_ohio
17 years ago
Right now, I am in the process of scanning old family photos into the computer and identifying them. I hope that my aunt can help with that. Dad doesnt' know most of the old ones, and their brother is gone. I will eventually do the ones I have from the kids, too. Right now, they are in the envelopes they were put in when developed for the most part. Some are in albums. All are stored in a closet, mostly in a box or bag. They need to be gotten out of there, but I can only do so much at one time. I think the oldest are more important to preserve first. After I have them all scanned and saved to disc, I am going to give family memebers copies so if something happens to one set, someone else has back ups.

Tami
mcmann
17 years ago
I haven't done it yet but I think scanning onto a disc is probably the best. Just think how easy it would be to make copies for other members in your family. I used to worry about saving my photographs in case of an emergency, like a house fire. There are too many to carry.

But in the meantime I've taken them out of the albums. Those sticky plastic sheets are harmful to photos and as Susan pointed out they're probably not acid free. I ordered archival photo boxes and labels from 2 sources: Archival Methods and Light Impressions. Both have web sites. I ordered acid free envelopes to put the photos in and wrote the date and subject on the front. Or you can buy polyethylene bags.

Archival Methods has a box (12x15x4) that holds 2,400 4x6 prints and Light Impressions has one box (15x6x5) that holds 900 4x6.
patti43
17 years ago
I've "archived" mine into a big cardboard box in the bottom of the guest room closet. I did take a stab of sorting them once and taking out all the ones that didn't have people in them. Also gave DD all her sweet baby/kid/teen pictures. Like Minnie, nobody'll want them anyway.
jaybird
17 years ago
I have tons of pictures in an antique metal ice cream cone bucket w/lid. I have a bunch more recent ones in a big basket on the LR coffee table. Those two "storage" units are the first thing that the kids drag out...it makes me laugh!

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