preserving an old letter

[crisgal]

My mum has a letter written to her from her brother in 1944. Its written in pencil on pale blue "censored" army paper.
sadly it's fading very badly especially on the folds, but obviously we would like to keep it.
Is she better opening it out flat and putting it inside something? Plastic? Is there a special sometihng for this kind of thing?
I would appreciate any advice. Thanks x

[skyep]

Hi crisgal - We had this same dilemma for my mum. Her brother had written a letter, he was in the second world war. She ended up laminating it. Of course doing this would mean you can't actually handle the original document, but it has preserved it well. Actually helps the writing stand out clearer too! xxx

[weeal]

can you photograph it and darken the image a bit so as the writing is more noticeable? then store it as an image file where it can be printed out/viewed any time

[crisgal]

both really useful suggestions, thank you x

[Whickerman]

Scan it in the highest possible resolution.

For paper, it's best to keep it flat and unfolded - in the pages of a heavy book perhaps? - away from light. Handling will indeed speed up the decaing process, so my suggestion would be to scan and then laminate, as mentioned above

[taliesin238]

Go and speak to your local archives they will give you some helpful tips!! definetaly scan the paper on computer and use that copy so you can permenantly store the original in the best possible environment (free from dust, light, heat and do not handle it put some cotton gloves on)

[dot.hawkes]

do not be tempyed to put it in a pastic document hole punched wallet, they change their flexibility over time and could damage it. Most conservators would avid handling a document, store it in an airtight box in a dry place. Record Offices would keep thinsg simple and obviously the less handling the better, i have laminated some original irreplacable documents, but it is quite a modern process and noone can really guage yet the longevity of anything laminated. There are certain papers on the market that have in excess of 100 years life in theory. If you ever visit a record office and request an item fropm the catalogue that is a few hundred years old, any deteriation in the paper and ink has occurred before being deposited, and so it is really down to the care shown during the time it is in your possession.
I think any good conservator in your local recotd office would be able to give you the best advice.

[crisgal]

thanks everyone x