Saving Photo Memories
Family Photographs Preserve Past
as Legacy for Future GenerationsBy Vicki Davis
Remember going to grandmother's house on a rainy day? Since the children can't go out to play, grandma pulls out a shoe box or a hatbox full of family photographs, and the children are entertained for hours seeing what mom and dad looked like at their age, being introduced to strange faces that turn out to be aunts and uncles as children, or even grandma in younger days.
Sometime during the stroll down memory lane, some member of the family usually mentions to grandma that she really should get the photographs organized. "They are just going to get damaged in this shoe box," someone says. "And there are no names or date on anything. Once you are gone, we won't know who half these people are."
There's something to be said for a nicely organized family photo album, but according to Veronica Jordan of Madison, Alabama, those shoe box photos may be safer than photos stored in most of the albums in the homes of America's 65 million families. Mrs. Jordan says that the majority of families store their photographs in "magnetic press-and-stick" albums, or in plastic picture-pocket albums.
"While these albums are easy to use and seem to offer protection for our precious family pictures," says Mrs. Jordan, "instead of preserving and protecting, they are slowly destroying those photos."
Most of the magnetic albums are made with materials that can destroy photos over times, says Mrs. Jordan. In magnetic albums where you peel back a plastic sheet and mount photographs on a sticky adhesive coating, the materials often give off gases that stain photographs yellow.
"Another problem with these magnetic albums is the sticky backing," says Mrs. Jordan. "Often, the photographs can permanently bond to the backing. So while you think you are protecting the pictures making up your family legacy, you are actually setting them up to be destroyed."
Pocket albums, where photos are placed in pockets of plastic can also be harmful. "I don't want to criticize all albums, but there are two big problems with the pocket albums. First, if the plastic is made of polyvinyl chloride, it will fade and discolor photos over time. Also, the pocket albums really limit the creativity of putting together a family album. Most are for three-by-five or four-by-six photographs. So that's the only size picture you can use. But these pocket albums are okay to use if they are made from Mylar plastic, which is photo safe."
Mrs. Jordan says that people buy these albums because they are usually inexpensive, from $7 to $15. "But I think people need to look at the overall investment. The camera equipment is quite expensive. And film is costly. Add to that the cost of getting pictures developed, and you have made quite an investment in these photographs. Do you really want to be cheap now, by buying an inexpensive album that can destroy the investment?"
Mrs. Jordan uses albums from Creative Memories, that cost around $34. But albums that are photo safe can also be purchased at art supply stores. For persons who use albums or scrapbooks that don't have plastic coverings, it is important to take care in the type of adhesive you use to secure the pictures into the album.
"Never use rubber cement," warns Mrs. Jordan. "This will damage your photos. Also, be sure the paper is acid-free. When labeling pictures, be sure to use acid-free pencils or pens.
If photographs are properly stored, they can last for generations, says Mrs. Jordan. About 90 percent of the 14 billion snapshots taken every year are color photographs, which have a lifespan of about 50 years. Black and white photos last for over 100 years.
While persons who are in their 20's and 30's today are probably in the most photographically documented era in history, their parents' black and white photographs will last longer. It is quite likely that the visual heritage of today's generation is being lost.
"I tell my classes to plan to take at least a roll of black and white film every year. That way, they have photos that really are a family legacy. They can also take color photos for the family album that gets shown to family and friends, but for the family history, black and white photos are best."
Mrs. Jordan recommends keeping more than one family photo album. "I have one that the family enjoys, and one that is stored for posterity. I think it is also important to store the photo negatives in a place separate from the albums, even in a safe deposit box."
Speaking of storing, Mrs. Jordan notes that the photo albums should "live where the family lives." Pictures should be stored in the living area of the home, never in the attic or basement. Also, albums should not be stacked, rather, stored upright like books, to prevent warping.
Another part of Mrs. Jordan's class on preserving the family's photo history is creating what she calls the family photo journal.
"Photojournaling is going a little further than just labeling the who and when of a photograph," she says. "Put in some of the feelings of the day."
As an example, Mrs. Jordan shows an entry in one of her albums where her baby daughter is photographed with her great-great-grandmother.
"I put two pictures on the page, and then wrote a little family history, telling about the day, about how close my great-grandmother was to me, that sort of thing. Years from now when my daughter is old enough to see that picture, she will see what an event it really was."
The way Mrs. Jordan sees it, she isn't just a proud mommy saving snapshots of her darling baby. "I am the family archivist," she says. "When you take a little time to create an interesting family album, you are also preserving your family history for future generations. I think it is worth the time and the extra money."
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