Preserving Memories: How to Store Old Photos

Old photographs are gateways to the past, showing people, places, and eras much loved – and much changed. They are among the most valued of our belongings.

Though we love and cherish them, not too many of us naturally excel at storing pictures. Those who know how to organize and store old photos, however, understand that success is not so much technique as it is having the right storage materials, the right location, and the right mindset. It turns out that the best way to preserve old photos is not too tough to master if you can commit yourself to the task.

So, if your printed family photos are sitting in a box, collecting dust, or trapped in a tub in the attic, now is the time to dust them off and do the work to preserve them for generations to come. Keep scrolling to learn how.

Gather, Organize, and Label Your Old Photos

First step’s first: gather all your pictures together. Yes, all of them – even the ones in albums. In fact, you may decide to remove photos from your albums to better protect them over time. 

Then, depending on how many photos you’re dealing with, you can choose to organize them by year, event, location, subject…anything you want.

Many people decide to organize chronologically, which can be a challenge with several decades of photos. If you decide to arrange your pictures this way, start by sorting them broadly by years or even decades. Narrow down from there.

As for labeling, The New York Times suggests you write on index cards or slips of paper that you store with the photos. You can also use a number two pencil to write lightly on the back of the image towards the edges. Be careful not to write in the center of the photo. Another option is to buy a photo album with room to write details next to the pictures.    

Choose the Right Storage Material

After you’ve done your research on how to preserve old photos, chances are you’ll be in the market for high-quality, acid-free storage solutions. There’s really no other option when it comes to safeguarding photos for the long-term. That said, you can choose from a number of different storage materials to suit your style and needs.

• Acid-Free Photo Albums
  Photo albums have come a long way. Gone are the brown lines of glue and thin plastic page covers. Today, you can take your pick of any number of acid-free photo albums on the market. Make sure your album isn’t self-adhesive or “magnetic” as these types are not archival and may damage your pictures over time.
• Acid-Free Photo Corners
  Once you’ve picked out your acid-free album or albums, you’ll likely need acid-free photo corners to anchor your pictures in place. For the best results, look for high-quality, non-yellowing photo corners that are sturdy but can be easily repositioned.
• Archival Photo Sleeves
  If you don’t want to fuss with photo corners but still want to use photo albums for storing pictures, archival photo sleeves might do the trick. Look for high-quality, acid-free options with resealable edges. Keep in mind that you may have to buy sleeves for a variety of photo sizes.
• Acid-Free Photo Boxes
  Many people wondering how to store old photos in boxes are surprised to find out that the boxes themselves have to be acid-free. Choose the size and style of your photo boxes based on your personal needs and preferences, but make sure they are sturdy and well-constructed. The last thing you want is for your photo box to collapse, especially if you’re planning on stacking them in a mini-storage unit.

Store in a Cool, Dry Place

The single most important factor in how to store old photos successfully is where you decide to store them. You need to keep them in a climate-controlled storage environment without radical shifts in humidity or temperature. Do not make the mistake of keeping them in an attic, basement, garage, or anywhere near a water or heat source as that will irreparably damage them over time, even if they’re stored in acid-free boxes or albums.

Tips to Protect from Environmental Factors

Photos need and deserve the right conditions and storage materials to last over the long-term. They’re simply too fragile – and meaningful – to store carelessly. Here are some common photo storage gotchas:  

• Temperature and humidity
  As mentioned above, temperature and humidity can wreck your photos in short order. In fact the hotter the temperature, the faster your photos will be damaged.  According to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, the combination of high temperature with high humidity can even “contribute to the growth of microscopic mold spores” that are “usually impossible to remove without damaging the photograph.” Climate-controlled storage you can trust is the only solution.
• Light Protection and UV
  Similar to temperature and humidity, light and ultraviolet rays can wreak havoc on your valuable photos. If you’ve ever left a photo in a frame only to watch it discolor over time, you know that the damage is pervasive and irreversible. Top of the list of the best way to preserve old photos is to keep them in the dark, away from all light sources. If you must display your photos, look for frames with UV-filtering acrylic glazing which can reduce the amount of UV exposure. No picture frame offers 100% UV protection.
• Avoid Adhesives
  Generally speaking, you’ll want to avoid any adhesives that aren’t specifically made for archival photo storage. Acid-free photo corners are an exception, as is acid-free glue although most glue seems to fail over time and some types have been reported to warp photos. Above all, never use cellophane or packing tape as it will deteriorate and might even cause damage to your pictures as it does.  

Scan and Digitize

So far, we’ve only been talking about physical photos: the kind you can touch and feel. To truly preserve these priceless memories for years to come, your best bet is not just to organize and store them properly – but to also scan your physical photos so that you have digital copies of each.

Once you’ve scanned them in, make an account at a digital photo organizer provider like Google Photos, and create a folder system to store your scans. If this seems overwhelming, there are resources to help you, such as professional photo organizers you can hire to protect and tame your collection. Some pros even offer digital organizing and maintenance classes to teach you how to do it yourself. 

We want to caution you that protecting your precious photos can take a lot of time and a fair amount of investment to do right. But you can rest assured that doing it right is the number one gift you can give to loved ones of today and tomorrow. As Andy Warhol said, “The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.” Make sure your pictures never change by storing them properly.