 |  |  | General Information
Open to the public, the County of Riverside Robert J. Fitch Archives serves a broad range of interest and users, including: County staff, independent researchers, students, historians, and writers. Those seeking to research historical property ownership and valuation, mining or water interests, or actions taken by the Board of Supervisors beginning in 1893 will find original documents in the Archives to assist them. Primary resource materials from other County Departments will be added in the future. Please contact the County Archives for further information.
Seven Tips to Preserve Your Historical
Documents
The
Robert J. Fitch Archives for the County of Riverside, California encourages you
to preserve your family memorabilia, newspaper clippings, photos, etc. Here
are seven tips to ensure proper care and management of your historic keepsakes:
- The best
protection for your photographs, newspapers, campaign buttons, tickets, printed
programs, or even bumper stickers is a cool, dry, stable environment (for
example, moderate temperature and humidity with relatively little
fluctuation, clean air and good air circulation, no natural or fluorescent
light, and good housekeeping).
- Valuable
paper collections do not belong in your attic or basement, which
commonly are subject to excessive heat and/or moisture. Avoid storing
materials beneath or close to such water sources as washing machines,
bathrooms, or air-conditioning equipment. And be sure to consider what is
in the room above your collection.
- Heat
causes damage. When displaying your framed photos, newspapers,
invitations, and other memorabilia, don’t hang these valuable items over
radiators, heating ducts, heat-producing appliances, or fireplaces.
Anything with long-term value should be housed away from heat sources.
- Light
causes fading and other damage. Keep photos and other memrabilia
“in the dark” as much as possible; don’t put them in direct sun or bright
light. Hallways or other rooms without windows are best. Install shades
and/or heavy curtains where you can’t avoid windows. If you must display
an item in direct sun or bright light, consider obtaining a high-quality
scan and displaying the digital print instead.
- Indoor
pollution rapidly damages paper and is a growing problem in
energy-conscious spaces with good insulation. Any valuable photo or
paper-based document on display should be protected by a preservation-quality
mat and frame. The glass or plastic covering, which protects the item from
pollutants and dirt, should contain UV filtering.
- Photos,
letters, clippings, and other family documents should be stored unfolded
because folding and unfolding breaks paper along the fold lines. Storing
photos and documents in folders rather than envelopes is recommended
because envelopes can cause damage as items are removed and replaced.
- When
considering whether to use paper or plastic enclosures for your photos,
select enclosures that pass the Photographic Activity Test (PAT). This
test ensures that the enclosure will not react chemically with your
photos. Supplier catalogs should indicate whether a photographic storage
product has passed the PAT. To read more about the PAT, see the Image
Permanence Institute’s “Archival Advisor” web page at www.archivaladvisor.org/.
The County Archives is open by appointment only. Please contact the Archives to schedule a time to view the County records under our care by sending an email
to CountyofRiversideArchives@asrclkrec.com or by calling (951) 486-7327.
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