Karen,
        In my "operating on sufficient knowledge to be
dangerous" mode, I have soaked old photographs in a tray of
water with a pinch of baking soda with subsequent rinse.  I
have one etching and one photograph done that way just over ten
years ago (they were previously mounted in highly acidic
environments and I felt I had to do something).  Seems to be
okay if you are very tender with the originals.
Too,photographs can be gently wiped with a clean, soft rubber
squegee and then laid face down on fiberglass screen to
dry--this produces about as flat a result as you can get
without using head dryers or blotters.
        Question:  is there a better, readily availalbe
chemical than baking soda to neutralize the ph?
        Thanks,
        John Bunch
        University of Virginia
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