Over
the holidays I got an email from someone asking about how to frame an old
diploma, which they thought was parchment (probably not) Apparently the document was in poor condition although the writer
did not elaborate on what that meant.
There are two questions here - (1) how to care for a damaged document
and (2) how to frame documents.
Without knowing more about the document and not being a paper
conservator I have to leave the first question to experts. What I can suggest is to house the
material in an archival folder out of the light and contact a conservator in the state where you live. This
can be costly depending on the work that is involved, but there are places that
will give estimates. Here in Texas
the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin maintains a list of
conservators - www.hrc.utexas.edu/conservation/resources/directory. I do know that the Northeast Document
Conservation Center is a reputable organization (www.nedcc.org) and you can send
them documents for estimates.
Conservation comes down to money as the deciding factor. Individuals protecting family heirlooms
just may want to store their documents in a safe, dry, and dark archival box.
Organizations may have more money to invest in conservation.
What
I will comment on is how to frame documents to preserve them for as long as
possible. This you can do at home
and although more expensive than regular framing the steps you take will help
extend the life of your document.
Of course you need archival (acid free) supplies. The document should be behind UV
filtered glass and separated from the glass with an acid free mat. Never put any document directly
touching glass. It could stick and
often will. Backing of the frame
requires archival board - usually e-flute board, which looks like blue-grey
cardboard, but is acid free.
Regular cardboard is not acceptable. If you have framed items with cardboard you should replace the
backing for them as well. That’s it and you are good to go. By the way most good framing places can
do this if you ask. Next step is
not hanging it in direct sunlight.
If you really want to protect it take it out of the light every few
months. The term for this is
“resting” the material. Good luck
and remember nothing organic lasts forever, but you certainly can extend its
life.
