[APG Public List] Labelling photos

[Morris Simon]

Listen to Christine. Especially the part about not writing descriptions on 
the photograph itself.

I usually use a #1 or #2 lead pencil to put a catalog number on a corner 
edge of the back of photographs, then copy the number to a small slip of 
non-acidic paper containing a detailed description of the photograph. I 
place the photgraph in an archival envelope and attach the descriptive slip 
to the outside of the envelope with archival tape (similar to paint masking 
tape but with acid-neutral glue. I prefer to make a digital copy of the 
photo for handling and then seldom remove the original photo from its 
archival envelope.

Morris
(an occasional library archivist)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christine Crawford-Oppenheimer" <christine3cats at gmail.com>
To: <apgpubliclist at apgen.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: [APG Public List] Labelling photos


> Also, please: you may know this already, but in case you don't....
>
> Label photos using a very soft pencil, not a pen, and definitely not a
> felt tip pen (ink may transfer to other photos in a stack). Write the
> label on an edge of the back of the photo rather than the middle, and
> have the photo on a very hard surface to avoid making indentations
> that will show on the front of the photo. If at all possible, write
> the label on some other piece of paper that can be inserted in an
> enclosure with the photo, rather than on the photo itself.
>
> I may have retired from my archivist position, but the knowledge carries 
> on!
>
> Christine
>
>
> -- 
> Christine Crawford-Oppenheimer
> Hyde Park, NY
>
> Author of: Long-Distance Genealogy:
> Researching Your Ancestors from Home
>