Government archives publish detailed guidance; this page combines how to store old photographs and how to digitize old photos in one checklist for family shoeboxes. Pair it with questions to ask your parents, questions to ask your grandparents, and write your life story.
Quick checklist: preserve old photos
- Wash and dry hands (or use nitrile gloves); hold prints by edges only.
- Remove clips, rubber bands, tape, and sticky notes.
- Store in a cool, dry, stable room—not attic, basement, or exterior wall.
- Use PAT-passing polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene sleeves—not PVC.
- Label backs with soft graphite pencil near the edge—never ballpoint on the image.
- Do not peel photos off old album mounts; consult a conservator if stuck.
- Scan on a flatbed; keep originals after digitizing.
- Name files simply; write who, what, where, when in a spreadsheet or metadata.
- Keep at least three copies on two media types, one off-site (3-2-1).
- Ask the storyteller what was happening the day the photo was taken.
How should you handle prints?
The Library of Congress recommends clean, dry hands or nitrile gloves, handling by edges, and avoiding food, drink, and lotion nearby. Do not use paper clips, rubber bands, tape, or sticky notes on prints.
Where should you store old photographs?
Institutions publish slightly different numbers—use them as ranges, not magic digits:
- Library of Congress: about 70°F or below, 30–50% relative humidity, fluctuation under 5% per 24 hours; avoid attics, basements, vents, exterior walls. Colour photos and negatives benefit from colder storage (40°F or below) for long-term archival goals.
- National Archives (family storage): below 75°F; RH below 65% (mold risk) and not below 15% (brittleness); keep off damp basement floors and hot attics; store on shelves.
- NEDCC: about 70°F, RH under 55%; avoid outer walls and heat sources; keep boxes several inches off concrete floors.
What enclosures are safe for old photos?
Enclosures should pass the Photographic Activity Test (PAT, ISO 18902). NEDCC recommends polyester (Melinex), polypropylene, or polyethylene sleeves—not PVC. The National Archives storing guide recommends lignin-free, acid-free boxes; NEDCC notes “acid-free” alone can still become acidic over time—PAT matters (see also NEDCC’s care of photographs leaflet). Avoid magnetic self-stick albums, rubber cement, and ordinary tape.
How should you label photographs?
The Library of Congress suggests a soft graphite pencil on the back near the edge—not on the image surface. Record names, dates, and places while someone who knows the answers is in the room.
What if photos are damaged or stuck in albums?
National Archives holdings maintenance guidance says remove metal clips, staples, rubber bands, and Post-its—but do not remove photos from original mounts if separation risks tearing emulsion. Consult a professional conservator for glued scrapbooks or flood damage.
How should you scan old photos?
The National Archives digitizing guide recommends flatbed scanners, not auto-feed, which can curl or tear prints. Keep originals after scanning. Use file names with letters, numbers, hyphens, or underscores (A–Z sorting). Capture metadata: who, what, where, when.
How should you back up digital photo files?
Follow the National Archives 3-2-1 rule: three copies, two media types, one off-site. The Library of Congress personal archiving guide for digital photos also recommends at least two copies on different media, stored far apart, checked yearly, and refreshed onto new media about every five years.
Which storage options are safe?
| Storage option | Safe? | Why (source) |
|---|---|---|
| PAT-passing plastic sleeve in acid-free box | Yes | LoC & NARA recommend PAT enclosures; NEDCC lists polyester/polyethylene/polypropylene |
| Interior closet shelf, stable RH | Usually yes | LoC/NARA: avoid attics, basements, exterior walls |
| Magnetic “sticky page” album | No | NARA warns against magnetic self-stick albums and PVC |
| Hot attic or damp basement | No | LoC, NARA, NEDCC: temperature/RH swings damage emulsion |
| Rubber bands or paper clips | No | LoC/NARA: remove before storage—bands crease; clips rust |
| Cloud backup + external drive | Yes for digital copies | NARA 3-2-1; LoC two+ copies far apart, check yearly |
How do you record the story behind each photo?
A preserved file without context becomes a mystery in one generation. While scanning, ask who, where, when, and why the shutter clicked. Use prompts from our parent question list or grandparent question list. Store captions in the same folder as scans.
Books of My Life (Cortie) offers free photo restoration: snap the print in the iMessage chat or mail originals—we scan, restore fading and creases, and return them. Restoration never counts as a story. Cortie can capture the story in the same conversation and add the restored image to a private family memoir. See /gift or pricing for how memoir and hardcover choices work after three stories.
Frequently asked questions
How should you handle old photographs?
The Library of Congress recommends clean, dry hands or nitrile gloves and handling prints by the edges. Avoid touching the image surface. Remove paper clips, rubber bands, tape, and sticky notes before storage.
What temperature and humidity are safe for storing photos?
Guidance differs slightly by institution: the Library of Congress suggests about 70°F or below and 30–50% relative humidity with minimal daily fluctuation. The National Archives recommends below 75°F and relative humidity below 65% (and not below 15%). NEDCC suggests about 70°F and RH under 55%. Avoid attics, basements, and exterior walls.
What should you store old photos in?
Use enclosures that pass the Photographic Activity Test (PAT, ISO 18902): polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene sleeves—not PVC. Choose lignin-free, acid-free boxes. Avoid magnetic self-stick albums, rubber cement, and ordinary tape.
How should you digitize old photos?
The National Archives recommends flatbed scanners—not auto-feed—for prints, keeping originals afterward. Use simple file names, and record who, what, where, and when in metadata or a sidecar spreadsheet.
What is the 3-2-1 backup rule for family photos?
National Archives digitizing guidance describes 3-2-1: three copies, two media types, one off-site. The Library of Congress personal archiving guide also recommends at least two copies on different media, stored far apart, checked yearly, with new media copies about every five years.
Can Cortie restore old photos for free?
Yes. Restoring old photos is always free on Books of My Life—they can snap a print in the iMessage chat or mail originals to be scanned and returned. Restoration does not count as a story. Cortie can capture the story behind the photo in the same conversation.
Related guides
More on the way. For now, this guide covers the big picture.