I agree with Alan.  Scanned or photographed copies are a must before attempting anything.  Digital copies can be "restored" fairly easily, if desired.  The originals can be stored by trimming the paper around them carefully to separate the photos form each other and get them down to a more manageable size.  They can then be boxed in individual folders.  Depending on the ph of the paper and adhesive you may want to use buffered folders.  Light impressions has all the supplies you would need for storage, or you could save a bundle by making your own folders.  Good luck, and let me know if you need anything else!
-Casandra

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 10, 2013, at 9:10 PM, Becky Damptz <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Casandra, 
> 
> The glue hasn't done any visible damage to the photos outside of the wrinkles caused at the contact points.  Her ultimate goal is to have a better display with more information about each photo (people, places, dates, etc) since people look at them all the time, but these are her only copies. She would like to make copies of the originals, and put those on display instead, putting the originals away for safe keeping.  
> 
> Thanks!
> Becky
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, Jul 9, 2013 at 2:35 PM, Cass Karl <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> Becky,
>> I agree with Dave that consulting a professional conservator is the best choice for removing the paper. However, I would ask the director of the library *why* she wants the photos removed.  Are they being re-framed?  Put into storage? is the glue damaging the photos?  Does it just "look bad"?  My point is that there *may* be a way around the problem aside from hiring a conservator to cleanly remove the paper. I do a lot of work with small museums and have developed an extensive toolkit of creative solutions.  I would be happy to advise further if you can give me more information about the desired outcome.
>> 
>> -Casandra Karl
>> Museum Solutions Consulting
>> Nashville, IN
>> www.museumsolutions.net
>> [log in to unmask]
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Jul 9, 2013 at 12:08 AM, Barbara Hass <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> here is a very detailed publication about adhesives and tapes and photographs 
>>> http://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/pcc/15_hinge-tape-and-adhesive-removal.pdf
>>> 
>>> I'm sure a professional examination is best but this might be good to keep for reference
>>> found by a web search using the terms
>>>   remove glued photographs conservation preservation
>>> 
>>> Best wishes, Barbara, retired librarian
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Becky Damptz <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: MUSEUM-L <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Mon, Jul 8, 2013 6:18 pm
>>> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] photographs glued to paper in a frame
>>> 
>>> Good evening, 
>>> 
>>> The Director of one of the surrounding libraries asked for my advice last week on local history items she has displayed in the library.  The Director is mainly concerned about the condition of a collection of photographs that are framed and hanging in the entry way.  Each display consists of several photographs glued (a lot of glue was used) to a paper backing (basically the back of the frame manufacturer's insert).  She seems to believe that the frames were put together sometime in the 1980s, and would like to know if there is any way to remove the paper from the back of the photos. My immediate answer to her was "not without damaging the photograph", but I thought I would ask the listerv to make sure.  
>>> 
>>> Is there a safe way to separate the paper backing from the photo without damaging the photograph?  Or should she just leave it alone?   
>>> 
>>> There are also paper labels attached with glue to the front of each photo.  
>>> 
>>> Thank you in advance.  
>>> 
>>> Becky
>>> 
>>> Rebecca Damptz, MLIS
>>> Local History Librarian/Archivist
>>> Decatur Public Library
>>> Decatur, IL
>>> 
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