Photo preservation and digital restoration references

On the 18th of August I gave a talk to the Wellington Southern Bays Historical Society in Island Bay about Photo preservation and digital restoration.  I thought it might be useful if  I put all the references I gave out in the talk in one place:

Where to get archival storage boxes and enclosures in NZ

Port Nicholson Packaging in Petone:

http://www.pnp.co.nz/

Conservation supplies in Havelock North

http://www.conservationsupplies.co.nz/

General archiving information

The practical archivist blog has useful information about archiving and sorting your family photos and heritage items

http://practicalarchivist.com/

Both archives NZ and TePapa have information on their sites about sorting and looking after photographs


Useful references for dating photographs

For photographic processes  http://www.graphicsatlas.org/

Also Gawain Weavers' site contains a very useful chart which you can use to help identify the photographic processes employed in 19th Century Photographic prints

http://gawainweaver.com/processID

For NZ photographers since 1840 - the photographic database link is:

http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/DigitalLibrary/resourcepages/photographersdatabase.aspx?RD=~/DigitalLibrary/topicpages/photography.aspx

RogerVaughan  updated reference to this site 
http://www.cartes.freeuk.com/dec/dated.htm

Some links on clothing styles and fashions
http://www.fashion-era.com/Dating_Costume_History_Pictures/how_to_date_photographs_top.htm

http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/1870-victorian-photo-gallery.php

Conserving your photos, negatives and slides – getting the right stuff!

One of the problems with photos and documents is they deteriorate over time, and that’s why we digitise and scan as this captures the image/document in its current state. I often get asked how to deal with storing the family documents and photographs. 

It is best to avoid touching negatives, slides and photos with your fingers unless you handle them with tweezers or cotton gloves or round their edges as the oil from your fingers can damage these images.

 Storing images
Good old black photograph albums are not a bad start, at least they keep the photos out of the light.  Ideally though it is best to use properly designed storage containers made from materials that will not react with your images further.  Some images and documents require neutral pH others require calcium buffered containers, so it is best to seek advice about the specific requirements for your images and documents. Google is your friend for finding out the most up to date information and advice for storing your images.


Negatives stored in purpose designed archival pages

In New Zealand I get my storage materials from either:

Port Nicholson Packaging in Petone Wellington who stock the Australian archival Museum storage systems 
http://www.pnp.co.nz/

or Conservation Supplies
http://www.conservationsupplies.co.nz/

Both these places have excellent information about the materials they have on offer on their websites and offer online ordering and delivery.

The National Library  has information about storing family collections including documents and photo's.  
http://natlib.govt.nz/collections/caring-for-your-collections/photographs

There is also information in this handy pdf produced by the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
http://www.conservation-us.org/_data/n_0001/resources/live/photographs.pdf
 

 

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