How can I preserve photographs?

1. Store photographs at 68 degrees F. and 30-40% relative humidity (HR) in a closet or air-conditioned room.
2. Don't store them in the attic or basement. Higher humidity levels speed up deterioration; very low humidity may cause prints to crack, peel or curl. Storage at lower temperatures is particularly advised for contemporary color prints.
3. Avoid exposing photographic materials to anything containing sulfur dioxide, fresh paint fumes, plywood, cardboard, and fumes from cleaning supplies.
4. Store photographs in proper enclosures made of plastic or paper materials which are free of sulfur, acids, and peroxides. Preservation quality paper storage enclosures are available in buffered (pH 7.5-9.5) and unbuffered stock. Stable plastic enclosures are made of uncoated polyester film (Dupont Mylar Type D or ICI Melinex 516), uncoated cellulose triacetate, polyethylene, and polypropylene. All materials used for storing photographic collections should pass the PAT (Photographic Activity Test) and will be marked as such by suppliers of high quality photographic enclosures.
5. If relative humidity cannot be controlled consistently below 80%, plastic enclosures should not be used because photographs may stick to the slick surface of plastic.
6. Avoid acidic paper envelopes and sleeves, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, rubber bands, paper clips, and poor-quality adhesives such as pressure-sensitive tapes and rubber cement. Buffered enclosures are preferred for deteriorated photographic prints on poor-quality mounts.
7. Avoid the cheap, readily available "drug-store type" photo albums. Instead buy albums made of high-quality materials. Generally, use photo corners and only those materials that are known to have passed the PAT tests. Particularly, avoid albums with sticky adhesive pages.
   

Article from the Preservation Directorate: Library of Congress. The preservation procedures described here have been used by the Library of Congress in the care of its collections and are considered suitable by the Library as described; however, the Library will not be responsible for damage to your collection should damage result from the use of these procedures.