Repairing Existing Damage to Family Papers and Photographs
When to Call a Conservator
Contact a conservator if you cannot safely solve a problem with correct storage and handling. Wet or currently pest-infested materials need quick action to prevent further damage. In most other cases, you have time to decide if you want treatment completed or if you would like to store the items in their damaged condition.
Examples where a conservator could do treatment to repair the damage include:
 |
 |
| Rolled items that cannot be unrolled without tearing | Original documents that are stuck together |
 Mold on original documents |
 Original documents in many pieces |
 |
|
| Book with damaged binding |
Finding a Conservator
The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) has a Find a Conservator website that provides lists of conservation professionals searchable by location, by specialization, and by the type of service.
Consult their Guide to Finding a Conservator to learn more about questions to ask when selecting a conservator.