Should I store photos stored in a bank safety deposit box?
Q. Dear Donia,
I have documents and photos stored in a long narrow bank safety deposit box. Are they protected or should I also put them in archival paper? There is not room in the box for folders.
A. Dear Marie,
As a general rule, the documents and photos should be safe in the deposit box. The box is protecting the materials from light and dust and the environment in the majority of banks will be stable enough so on that level, your collections are protected. What we do not know for sure is what the metal is in the box and how it will react with the collections. What you might want to do to be on the safe side is to get some acid-free tissue (available from our sponsor, Hollinger-Metal Edge) and wrap the items in this tissue to give them a buffer. This tissue will help protect the papers and photos from each other, any corrosion that may occur in the metal in the drawer, and in the event of a water disaster.
I hope this helps, but if you have any further questions, just send them to "Dear Donia"!