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