>Hello the list:
>
My internship involves developing a catalogue/index/or
>archiving system to organize a collection of documents (some historic, some
>research, much miscellaneous such as newspaper clippings about the house,
>structural reports, etc.).

Cil,

are these documents that are in the collection and used for
"display/exhibit" or are these documents that are/will be used for
research by others, or documents that are only for the benefit of the staff?

Blueprints are NOT stable documents - DO NOT store them with any other
documents - they are "made" with an amonia solution and off gas !!!!!
Take these type of documents to a GOOD blueprint supply store and ask them
to run on mylar - Mylar will last a very long time (500 yrs!)
Old prints are wonderful to look at, but they can do damage to other
documents.

Org. drawings are another thing all together -
The American Institute of Architects has a museum - they could give you the
best advise on how to store these types of documents.

Newspaper clippings - are these new or old?  Remember what you learned about
modern newspapers - they don't last for long - be sure they have (in pencil)
the name, date and page number of the paper they came from.

I would suggest looking at Library cataloging systems - Library of Congress
- to see how this type of system works.

S.B.


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