I know that cedar is used to keep away insects.  It does
this by off-gassing (also creating that lovely smell).
The gas is so strong very close to the surface that it will
actually suffocate insects if they stay on it.  However, I
don't know of any studies into whether this substance has
adverse effects on fabric.
All texts will tell you however, that you shouldn't store
fabrics with unfinished wood due to the lignin/acid content
of the wood.

On Wed, 3 May 2000 19:52:19 EDT Carrie Snow
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I have been asked this question twice this past week, so I promised I would findthe answer.  Does anyone know of any damaging effects of storing textiles in cedar chests?  It was standard practice for my mom and many others to put anything of importance in her cedar chest.
>
>
> Carrie Snow
> Registrar
> Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace
>

----------------------
Vincent Lyon
[log in to unmask]

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