Damaged, Repair, Clean, Preserve Soviet Awards And Documents.

[Art]

Archival preservation is a science unto itself. Your best best is to search on the web and learn all the basics. Most are fairly obvious, but here's a few I've gleaned from a few websites:

Storage

Containers provide safe protection for valuables and make handling them easier

Enclosures also protect items from dust, light, and physical damage. A wide variety of storage enclosures is available to suit different needs. It is important to select an enclosure that is suitable for the object it is intended to protect. Since enclosures are either in direct contact with or in close proximity to items, it is vitally important that the materials used to make enclosures are of good quality. Both paper and plastics may be used. Paper and paper boards must be acid-free and lignin-free and must contain few additives. "Rag" paper is an example of a good quality paper having these properties. A buffer, usually calcium carbonate, is added to many papers. This creates an "alkaline reserve" that will neutralize acids that may continue to be generated in the paper through environmental exposure and internal paper degradation. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester film (often called Mylar™ are used to produce good quality enclosures. Plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which are chemically unstable, should be avoided.

(note: I always use Mylar-D "sleeves" for protecting award documents, document books, anything of document size. It's better than regular Mylar. Larger certificates I would use an acid-free backer board, lay the document onto it, then lay an acid-free board on top, then place in an acid-free box. Make sure to keep newsprint type paper out of there. I would keep anything really valuable separate and in its own box. Note: photographs are a different animal altogether and you should follow proper procedures for archiving photographic material.)

Display


If you choose to display items, follow these general guidelines:

Fading and color changes are the most common form of light damage. It is important to recognize that damage may occur gradually over many years and may be difficult to notice initially. Damage caused by light cannot be reversed; it can only be prevented. Particularly valuable objects should only be exhibited for short periods of time (3 - 4 months) at low light levels. Avoid permanent display of your objects, especially photographs and colored prints.

Direct sunlight and high light levels must also be avoided. Keep lighting fixtures away from your objects because they may also produce damaging heat. Dimly lit interior hallways and staircases are often good locations in a home for display. One approach for showing your treasures is to rotate their display. While professional framing with good quality materials can be expensive, in the long run it is money well spent.

(note: you should use only UV resistant plexiglas when framing your display)


Photographs


Don't touch the surfaces of your photographs.
Avoid use of "magnetic" albums because adhesives on the mounting pages may stain photographs.
Use photographic housing materials that have passed the Photographic Activity Test (P.A.T.) - a national standard which assures that enclosure and mounting materials will not chemically damage photographs (information about items meeting these requirements is often contained in catalog product descriptions).
Don't attempt to flatten photographs (contact a conservator).
Use copies for display rather than original, valuable photographs.
Fold and unfold documents as little as possible (store flat whenever possible).
House newspapers and other highly-acidic documents separately from other items.
Don't laminate paper materials using heat or adhesive fusion processes; encapsulate instead using Mylar sleeves or jackets (see "Storage" above).
House in acid-free, lignin-free paper folders and boxes.
Don't attempt to flatten objects.
Consider making copies of non-printed materials for display.

These are basic. If you are considering a project, pay particular attention to the paper you use to mat your items (make sure it's acid free, archival quality) and try to use the UV resistant glass/plexiglas. This will cut down on the harmful UV rays which cause things to fade.

Most of these supplies are available through Light Impressions:

http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/se...neShopping

I don't work for them or own stock in the company I've used their products before and was a satisified customer.

Art