A few years ago, I received a Preservation Assistance grant to rehouse a photograph collection with multiple sizes as you describe. We used document boxes with acid- free file folders inside. Inside the file folders, we cut down PAT-tested large size acid-free papers into uniform sizes that would fit into the file folders and be used as a separation between each photograph. So the photos are grouped together in file folders with paper separators in between, several folders per box.

According to photograph conservators I have worked with, plastic sleeves are unnecessary unless your collection is frequently handled. The method I have described is much cheaper than using plastic sleeves.

On Jan 16, 2014 11:06 AM, "Jenny Chernansky" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hello, my name is Jenny Chernansky. I am currently enrolled at George Washington University in the Museum Collections Management and Care program. It has been recommended that we sign on to this listserv. I am excited to join and looking forward to participating.

I am also currently working on several large inventory and preservation projects and was hoping to get some advice/ suggestions. One of the projects involves an inventory and re-housing of appx. 700 photographs of various sizes and prints. The sizes range from 3.5" x 3.5" to 8" x 10". They are currently organized by subject matter, and have no uniform size in which to store the images. I am looking for reasonably priced archival materials in which to re-house the collection, does anyone have any suggestions? Currently I am looking at Gaylord 3 mil self-locking photo sleeves starting with 8" x 10" and an Acid-free lignin free corrugated box with unbuffered envelopes, but they only fit 4" x 6" (which will work for some of the images but not all). If anyone has any recommendations for storage materials of photographs and space solutions for multiple sizes within a basic order it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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