Jun 10 2008
The perennial newspaper question
One of the most popular questions that I’ve been asked is “how can I preserve this newspaper clipping?” In fact, I suspect that if I polled archivists, I’d hear that it was easily in their top ten. So, I thought I’d share some of the resources and information that I give patrons and researchers (as well as reporters, neighbors, relatives, and passerby).
Some of the questions that I ask first:
-How old is the newspaper?
-Why do you want to preserve it?
-How has it been stored? What do you plan to do with it?
While I dislike giving advice on physical preservation without seeing the document in question, there are some things that I can do with the bare minimum of information above. The treatment can and usually does vary based upon the userand the information.
How old is the newspaper? This is important because not all papers are created equal. Prior to the mid-nineteenth century, the news was printed on cotton-based rag paper. Rag paper was expensive to manufacture, but it is much more stable than newspaper, and papers from the pre-1880s tend to be in generally good condition. The cost of manufacture was a primary reason for the switch to what we know as newspaper, a wood-pulp based medium. Newsprint has a high lignin content, which speeds the yellowing and deterioration of the paper. Traditional newsprint is a highly unstable medium which reacts negatively to excessive moisture or dryness.
Where has it been stored? What are you planning to do with it? Why do you want to preserve it? Because paper is hygroscopic and responds to moisture (or lack thereof) by swelling or shrinking, one of the desires of an archivist or institution charged with preserving paper-based collections is to control the temperature and relative humidity of the storage environment. Many times I hear from people that they have a newspaper clipping that has yellowed and started to flake apart, and they would like to preserve it. I usually ask “why?” not because I’m nosy, but because the answer is related to the treatment. In any case, I usually start by recommending that they make a copy– scan it, photocopy it, or take a photograph in order to preserve the informational content, which is generally the goal, anyway. After a copy has been made, future intent should be assessed. If this will be stored somewhere, it should be kept in an area that is not subject to wild fluctuations in temperature or humidity– in other words, not the basement or the attic, and not next to a source of heat, light, or water. Some preservation experts advise keeping cherished newspapers and photos in a lived-in area of your home that is generally temperate, such as your bedroom or living room.
A range of other options: libraries generally microfilm many of their newspapers not only because of fragility, but also for ease of use and space considerations. This has been controversial in the past, particularly relating to Nicholsen Baker’s indictment of librarians in Double Fold; if you decide to read that, also consider reading the rebuttal Vandals in the Stacks? by Richard Cox. Clearly microfilming is probably not an option for the casual user, but understanding the reasons and process of preservation microfilming is useful for many archives patrons.
Other options: encapsulation, which consists of enrobing the document in a polyester sleeve, is generally not recommended unless the newspaper has been deacidified or is in really bad condition. For the latter, after making a preservation copy, inserting the paper into an L-sleeve along with a piece of alkaline-buffered paper can help to protect the newsprint from further damage by handling. Complete encapsulation of newsprint that has not been deacidified is not recommended. Additionally, lamination is not recommended as a preservation strategy (though it can extend the life of the newsprint) because it can damage the paper and is irreversible. Digitization, while not considered to be a preservation medium, can be useful for accessing the informational content of the document, and is useful for the casual user.
Storage and use: to keep your newspapers long-term, store them flat in an appropriately-sized archival box. Keep them in an environment that does not fluctuate much, and that does not reach extreme highs or lows, or have excessive humidity or dryness. Newspapers can be interleaved with buffered paper or tissue to counteract some of the acidity. Keep them away from light and heat, and try not to handle them too much.