How to organize your stuff??? Help

[Chap15]

I am going through my chaplain items for the French guy who wrote the GI Collectors Guide. He is coming out with another volume and I am taking pictures and writing the section on US Chaplains during WWII.

I have hundreds of photo, military manuals, books, death cards, small booklets, uniforms, and TA50.

Please show how members of the forum organize their collection (not a computer data base) when all they have is a room. Binders work well for death cards, but what about small booklets??? What about TA50??? Not all of it can be on display...but having it handy would be nice.
Any thoughts???

Thanks.

[Chap15]

1

[Chap15]

Just a sample of booklets I have. If I put all these booklets in the binders it could take a bit of space.
Any thoughts???

[Nick_since_1985]

imagination

[Okrach]

imagination

Agreed

[marc brans]

I put items that aren't on display or old booklets etc. in shoe boxes...this also takes some place in but you can stack 'em with more ease then binders.
I think...

[entasis]

archiving paper

paper archiving is very important. these photos and papers may start disintegrating in the next decades. A shoe box will only expedite the ruining of this because of the acids. From the pictures you posted, I believe you have the right idea. Those plastic sheets in the binder look like Acid-free, archival-quality polypropylene sleeves and if so, are the ideal storage place for them...that's where I keep my 3R paper docs, and booklets, and even my personal family photos. I have this 3 ring binder that 'fits' into a box. All is acid free and archival quality. I can try to take pictures and show you. It keeps everything inside without chancing anything from falling out by accident. A little pricey but quite minor compared to the contents of the investment.

To maintain items in good storage condition keep in a cool, dark place with constant temperature and humidity. That's to say, that the humidity and temperature should not change much over the year. The humidy cannot be too high otherwise you'll get mold. Avoid ultaviolet light (reason for darkness) as you can see what happens to curtains after a few years. Avoid contaminating the article with oils from your hands. Ideally wear gloves when handling these items. These oils can eat into the finish. This pretty much applies to everything.

Do an internet search on "archiving photographs" for additional info on paper care.

Tony (NJ)

[Craigob]

Excellent advice there, As a paper collector, storage to protect your investment cannot be shortcutted. Most of my stuff is in binders or boxers but i have a few docs framed with UV treated glass simply because i have a small window and the sun likes to get in here in the Morning. I have started to scan items now and output them as PDF Files for an archiving database program i have.

I belive you can get UV free lightbulbs now and window film??

[Gary B]

As an addition to what was said in the above threads, paper items should be stored in acid free boxes or if in a notebook should be stored in protectors that do NOT have PVC in them. PVC is a chemical additive that softens plastic. Non PVC material is quite stiff like Mylar protectors.

Gary B