Andrew,
If you go this method I'd recommend using Hollytex or Reemay sandwiched between the items and the blotters. This prevents the items, especially the photographs, from sticking to the blotters or fibres from the blotters transferring to the items.
Everything reacts differently and even something as simple as this process could potentially have disastrous effects on a couple of the items. If you have access to a conservator in your various organisational memberships I'd speak with them. They may be able to come out at little or no cost and provide some specific recommendations on humidifying and flattening the various materials you have.
William Shepherd
Collections Officer
Swift Current Museum
44 Robert Street West
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
S9H 4M9
Phone: 306-778-4815
Fax: 306-778-4818
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anna Heran
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 8:17 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Curled-up photos and other documents
You could try a homemade humidity chamber - a clean, new trash can with a laundry basket that fits inside but doesn't slide all the way to the bottom - make sure can is sealed on the bottom - no holes of any sort - humidify your materials in small batches - put your stuff in the laundry basket (which has holes in the sides) and put a little water in the bottom of your can. Try 24 hours. Then, get some blotter paper (can be gotten in big sheets) and some heavy glass or some other flat heavy item. Put the paper items (should now just feel like they are humidified - not wet!) between the blotter sheets, and lay your heavy glass or ??? on top - let dry - maybe a good week just to make sure things are nice and flat.
I have had great success with this method - we had some panoramic photos (almost 4' long) that had been rolled up and paper-clipped which we wanted to be flat again and did this and now they're good - even several years later, and can be put into a map case. The humidity helps loosen the warp and makes flattening more effective.
Good luck!
Anna K. Heran
Exhibits Curator & Education/Outreach Coordinator Lloyd Library and Museum
917 Plum Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-721-3707
www.lloydlibrary.org
Bringing Science, Art, and History to Life, Because the Past is the Path to the Future
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andrew Kirkland
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 10:04 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Curled-up photos and other documents
The historical society I am working with has a whole bunch of photos and other documents such as posters and flyers that are either curling up on their own or have been rolled up. What would be the safest but cheapest procedure (we are a small society with some money, but not much) to flattening them out? The plan is to buy a map drawer and maybe some other cabinets later this year so we are definitely looking to correct this. What would you guys recommend? Thanks for any and all help.
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