Hi Marielle,

Newspapers in any form remain a threat. If you can ***completely
isolate*** it from other archives, then it could be a viable resource...
but truly they were cheaply printed and never designed for long-term
use. 

Like staples and paper clips in archives, newspapers ideally should be
removed. Take the information you want from them. Reproduce them in
another format, but the objects themselves are too fragile and do not
respond well to deacidification techniques (wei-to). In the long run, I
don't think they are worth retaining the originals. I am a purist about
most things, but newspapers are a ticking time-bomb. Not worth the
expense and time to save the originals.

I respect the North East Document Center's current take on newspapers.
Here is what they have to say about them:

In the late 1970s, NEDCC publicized a homemade solution for deacidifying
news clippings, but the Center no longer recommends that this solution
be used. If a clipping is being retained solely for informational
purposes, a simple preservation strategy is to photocopy the newspaper
clipping onto archival-quality paper. Newsprint paper is extremely poor
quality and will continue to deteriorate even if it is nonaqueously
deacidified or washed. Some inks are soluble in commercially available
deacidification sprays, and some colors may change when they are
alkalized. As a result, any document to be treated should be tested
before it is sprayed. Photographs should never be deacidified.
http://www.nedcc.org/welcome/faq.htm 

Good luck with whatever you decide.
Ware

L.W.S. Petznick, Ph.D.
McFaddin-Ward House 
Curator of Collections
725 Third St.
Beaumont, TX 77701
[log in to unmask]
www.mcfaddin-ward.org
409.832.1906 p
409.832.3483 f

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Marielle Fortier
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 11:01 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: newspapers?

Ware, I am a bit confused by your advice.  Even if stored in the right
kind 
of box, would the newspapers still prove to be such a threat?  I would
agree 
to copy them onto acid-free paper, but totally getting rid of them
doesn't 
seem logical to me.  If an object in a museum was a danger to the other 
collections wouldn't isolation seem more fitting?  As a registrar I try
to 
not throw out much.  I learned from my mentors to always keep your
"paper 
trail" so others can follow it.  How do others feel about this?

Marielle



**********************
Marielle Fortier
Museum Registrar
Vermont
**********************




>From: Ware Petznick <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: newspapers?
>Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005 08:25:43 -0500
>
>Dear Nancy
>
>Whilst the content of the newspapers is golden, the newspapers
>themselves are a severe threat to your archives or collections storage.
>Their acidity will offgas and threaten the integrity of anything it
>touches over time.
>
>My best advice is to try to scan or photocopy on acid-free paper the
>important parts and then get rid of them!
>
>Good luck!
>Ware
>
>
>L.W.S. Petznick, Ph.D.
>McFaddin-Ward House
>Curator of Collections
>725 Third St.
>Beaumont, TX 77701
>[log in to unmask]
>www.mcfaddin-ward.org
>409.832.1906 p
>409.832.3483 f
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>Behalf Of Nancy Reddy
>Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 10:33 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: newspapers?
>
>A donation of newspapers from the city closest to our town was dropped
>off at our small history museum. Most of them are badly yellowed and
>crumbling but a few are in good condition. Many deal with WWII or
>Kennedy's assassination; some date as far back as the '30. I can see
>that
>I might use a couple of them in future exhibits but the bulk of them I
>have no need for and no space to store. I will check, but I am almost
>sure the donor will not want them back.
>
>Are these of any value? Should I bother calling around to find them a
>new
>home? And, for the few that I plan to keep, how should they be stored?
>Are there containers/tissues specifically designed for newsprint?
>
>Thanks for your help,
>Nancy Reddy
>Berkshire History Museum
>
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