By Shirley-Ann Pyefinch Director Ottawa Ontario Stake Family History Centre The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Website:

Outline Definition of preservation or conservation What is the preservation or conservation of your family history memories? Who to turn to for conservation needs? What are some typical types of family history objects? What to keep? How to preserve your family history? (Handling and storage practices, digital preservation, disaster planning, etc.) Resources available to help you Questions?

What is Preservation or Conservation? “ All actions aimed at the safeguarding of cultural property for the future. The purpose of conservation is to study, record, retain and restore the culturally significant qualities of the object with the least possible intervention.”

What is the preservation or conservation of your family history memories? All actions aimed at safeguarding your family history objects for the future, regardless of media or format.

Who to turn to for Conservation needs? Canadian Association for Conservation “Selecting and Employing a Conservator in Canada.”

Finding a Professional Conservator Canadian Association of Professional Conservators

Using a professional conservator Courtesy of Kyla Ubbink’s Treatment Gallery on her website at:

Before and After Treatment (Courtesy of Kyla Ubbink’s Treatment Gallery on her website - )

What are some typical types of family history objects? Paper documents Photographs Books Textiles Audio and Visual Recordings Artifacts - paintings, sculptures, etc.

What to keep? Family History Information Resources: 1. People 2. Documents (civil, church, military, school, etc.) 3. Publications (books, newspapers, etc.) 4. Audio & Visual Recordings (CDs, DVDs, tape cassettes, etc.) 5. Internet (Google, familysearch, ancestry, blogs, forums, etc.) 6. Social Media – Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc. 7. Paper & Electronic records

What to keep? You may have to be selective in what you decide to keep, choosing the best items of archival or enduring value. Photographs Journals, books, audio and visual recordings Original Records/Documents

How to preserve your family history? Quality products A conservator Storage and handling practices Environment

Using the best quality products Paper – acid free paper CDs – high quality CDs (gold) Toner – manufacturer’s Archival safe products

Storage and Handling Practices Understanding and caring for photographic materials

Care and Handling of Negatives Optimum 2 degrees Celsius Temperatures below 21 degrees Celsius are recommended RH 25 % (+-5%)

Caring and Handling of Photographs Same general care as negatives Framing Techniques Safe storage RH 30% to 35 % 15 to 25 degrees Celsius

Photo Albums Photo albums are another alternative for photo storage

PAT –Photographic Activity Test Look for photographic products that are PAT tested PAT = ISO Standard Archival quality in photographic enclosures Also tests components: -paper, -inks, -paints, -labels, -tapes, etc.

Digital Archiving of Family Photographs 1. Identify where you have digital files 2. Decide which files are most important 3. Organize the selected files 4. Make copies and store them in different places 5. Have a data migration strategy Recommend the US Library of Congress – Digital Preservation: Video: “Why Digital Preservation is Important for You.” ndex.html ndex.html

Have a Disaster Recovery Plan for Your Family History What is a disaster recovery plan? Develop your own disaster recovery plan. Identify essential records Off-site storage Accessibility Divide and assign Responsibilities to various family members

Classification of Disasters Natural: Floods, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, etc. Manmade: Hazardous material spills, Infrastructure failure, Security breaches, Viruses, Fires, etc. Mitigation Planning Control Measures Surveillance

Control Measures in a Disaster Recovery Plan 1. Preventative measures 2. Detective measures 3. Corrective measures Document your controls and test them

Care and Handling of Books Careful handling Avoid bookmarks, adhesive tapes, pressing flowers and storing newspaper clippings Clean your books and inspect annually Optimum storage temperatures 18 to 20 degrees Celsius RH for books with leather bindings 45 to 55 % Prevent fading

Preserving Paper Documents Optimum storage 2o degrees Celsius RH 30% Choose the right kind of paper for the right job Meet strength requirements Use supports when handling fragile documents and store horizontally

Understanding the Stability of Photocopied Documents Use permanent copy paper Toner Lighting Temperature Avoid direct contact with plastics (PVC=Polyvinyl chloride) Instead use polypropylene or Mylar

Containers for Storage

Visual and Audio Recordings Preservation copying Best storage temperature Keep magnetic tapes away from magnetic sources Does the player still work? Store in cases to protect from dust and exposure to light Ideal temperatures is 8 degrees Celsius, RH=25%

CDs and DVDs Ideal temperature is at 23 degrees Celsius RH = 35 to 55% Store in low light, vertical position in jewel cases Lifespan or longevity is unknown Best way to clean a CD or DVD is with compressed air Avoid CD labels Use archival quality CDs and DVDs

Conclusion Documenting and Sharing Our Work Providing Safe Storage Careful Handling Stable Temperature and Relative Humidity Being Prepared for Emergencies by Having a Disaster Recovery Plan Remember: Preventative care is the best form of conservation!

Resources Canadian Conservation Institute – CCI U.S. Library of Congress Canadian Association for Conservation – CAC Canadian Association of Professional Conservators – CAPC American Institute for Conservation – AIC International Institute for Conservation – IIC Carr McLean (Canadian Archival Supplier)

Questions Thank you for coming! My