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Storing your Collection STORING YOUR COLLECTION
General rules:
* Store in cool areas.
* Try to keep relative humidity (RH) constant. Extreme changes (more than 10% RH) will cause expansion and shrinkage, resulting in damage. High humidity encourages the growth of mould and bacteria. Low humidity causes drying and brittleness.
* Store in darkened places. Extended exposure to light (natural or artificial) will fade most objects since ultraviolet light causes bleaching and the breakdown of organic materials. This is especially important for printed objects, photos and dyed materials.
* Keep objects reasonably ventilated. Sealed areas can create stagnant air - encouraging
infestation. However, completely open ventilation also leaves objects open to airborne dust and dirt. Try to ventilate from all angles.
* Do not store objects directly in plastic, other than special conservation-friendly plastic (such as Melinex Polyester sleeves). Normal plastic will make fibres sweat in high temperatures and will cause condensation. Large plastic boxes and containers are OK if the objects are wrapped individually in tissue and ventilation holes exist.
* Be mindful of acid, dyes, inks and other infection agents that can degenerate objects. Acid will turn white paper brown and brittle.
* Do not clean objects with household cleaning agents. These often have damaging acid in them and are often too abrasive. If cleaning is desperately required use soapy water. You will be surprised how well this works.
* Undertake minimal handling of objects. Too much handling will increase problems that already exist.
* Wash your hands. You must have clean, recently washed hands at all times before handling objects. Acid forms on the palm of your hands and you also carry general dirt. Do not use hand creams before handling objects. Cotton and latex gloves are excellent.
* Do not permanently mark objects. Do not use pen / ink on any objects. Inscribe with a pencil, but only if it is essential.
* Storage areas must be kept clean so as not to attract vermin and insects.
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Options
| Object |
Best Possible Scenario |
Preferable Treatment |
Absolute Basics |
| Velvet Caps |
Keep in individual acid-free
boxes. Maintain the cap
shape by stuffing with
crunched-up conservation
tissue. Do not flatten.
Keep at 18-22°, 55-65 RH. |
Maintain cap shape (do not
flatten). Keep wrapped in
conservation tissue. Store
numerous caps in a large
box supported with tissue. |
Maintain cap shape with
general tissue. Keep
covered, free from dust
and light, in a cool and
dry atmosphere. |
Jerseys
(and other Fibre Materials) |
Keep each object neat.
Unfold the collar. Place
conservation tissue between
each layer of material and
add extra tissue between
folds and creases. House in
individual conservation
boxes.
Keep at 18-22°, 55-65 RH |
Fold neatly. House
numerous jerseys in a large
conservation box, with
conservation tissue between
each jersey. |
Keep neat and flat
without making folds too
sharp. Separate from
plastics or infected
materials. Keep free from
dust and light in a cool
and dry atmosphere. |
| Plaques & Trophies |
Wrap in archival tissue and
place in conservation grade
melinex bags: trophies
standing upright, plaques
laying flat.
Keep at 18-22°, 55-65 RH |
Wrap in archival tissue.
Store in constant
environmental conditions.
High humidity will quicken
the tarnishing of silver and
brass. |
Wrap in tissue, protected
from general
environmental changes. |
| Photographs |
Place in individual melinex
sleeves. Kept flat in acid
free boxes. Keep out of
constant / direct light.
Maintain constant
environmental conditions.
Keep at 11-18°, 50-65 RH |
Separate with archival tissue
sheets and keep flat. Place
in acid free boxes. Keep out
of constant / direct light. |
Keep flat, cool and dry.
Keep out of constant /
direct light. |
| Programmes & Books |
Keep original form of
object, (i.e. keep bound, do
not cut pictures out, etc.).
Wrap in conservation tissue.
Store stacked in acid free
boxes (largest object at
bottom)
Keep at 11-18°, 50-65 RH |
Keep original form. Place a
sheet of tissue between each
layer / object. |
Keep original form. Keep
free from dust and in
constant temperature and
humidity. |
| Tickets, Menus & Itineraries |
Do not use glue or tape.
Use acid-free boards as
support to keep items flat.
Do not allow to bend. Do
not use string, elastic bands,
etc. to bind groups of
objects. Keep in individual
melinex sleeves or archival
folders. House in acid free
boxes.
Keep at 50-55 RH
(high humidity causes acid
reaction in paper and rusting
of staples, paper clips, etc.) |
Do not use glue or tape. Do
not fold. Keep in tidy piles
where they are supported
and will not warp or bend.
Keep covered in tissue and
boxed.
Keep in low humidity, and
cool temperature. |
Do not use glue or tape.
Keep flat and boxed.
Keep in constant
temperature. |
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Displaying your Collection DISPLAYING YOUR COLLECTION
General rules:
* Use a sealed, lockable display case. It is best if you can purchase a dust proof museum-grade cabinet, but at the very least have your items securely locked.
* NEVER uses nails, tacks or pins on items (jerseys, touch flags etc). You will be causing
unnecessary damage by creating holes and placing strain on the object. Also, the nails will rust and infect the material.
* NEVER use glue or any tape (masking tape, etc...) on objects. The glue will harden and leave permanent marks. Conservation grade glue is expensive so a cheaper alternative is to create corners (or boarders) from cardboard and fasten them with the tape or glue. You can then use these to support the object. Alternatively, use conservation polyester, cut into strips, as a band support.
* Do not overcrowd display cabinets. Objects squashed next to each other will become damaged over time. Use perspex supports, where possible, since these will maintain the structure of the object. For example, generic plastic plate stands are good for supporting books.
* NO direct sunlight should fall on objects. It will cause fading. Lighting should not exceed 200 lux on any objects. As with storage, any type of lighting will damage and fade displayed objects, but direct sunlight is sure to damage your collection much faster.
Light at 50 lux is dark compared to sunlight but enough to see defined colours. 200 lux would be a normal room with day light but without any direct sun rays.
* Recommended display design. Try to place larger objects at the front and bottom of the case and smaller items at top. This will prevent obstruction of the view through the cabinet. Aim to have the most interesting part of an object (jersey badge, etc…) displayed the most obviously. Face the stitching of an old leather ball towards the viewer, but show the logos on the side panels of contemporary balls. Open match programmes to display the team line-ups, or to the page with an advert that reflects the era.
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Options for Display
| Object |
Best Possible Scenario |
Preferable Treatment |
Absolute Basics |
Jerseys
(and other Fibre Materials) |
Lighting restricted to 50 lux,
provided by controlled spot
lights. Keep objects flat, or
evenly supported with
perspex or conservation grade
cardboard. No intrusive
display techniques (nails,
etc…). |
Restrict light to 200 lux
provided by general
lighting. No direct
sunlight. Large objects at
the bottom of the case. No
placing objects under stress
through overcrowding or
poor methods of support. |
No direct sunlight.
No nails or glue used
in displaying objects.
Larger objects at the
bottom of showcase.
No objects put under
stress.mosphere. |
Archival
objects
(paper) |
Lighting restricted to 50 lux.
Firmly supported with acid free
board or perspex
supports. Held in position
with mounting board and
frame, or polyester strips (at
least 5mm wide). No sticking
tapes, pins, glues or staples. |
Restrict lighting to 200 lux.
Firmly supported with
board or perspex / plastic
supports. Held in position
with cardboard corners.
No sticking tapes, pins,
glues or staples. |
No objects under any
stress (eg bending).
No sticking tape,
pins, glues or staples.
Use ‘Blue-tak’, but
only for the short
term. No direct
sunlight. |
Trophies
(silver /
metalwear) |
Trophies are vulnerable to
tarnishing. Oxygen
accelerates tarnishing, so do
not place paper / material in
the same cabinet - the fibres
will encourage oxidisation /
tarnishing. Keep in a sealed
display case. Very important
to lock the case, as trophies
sometimes have a greater
value than realised. |
Do not keep trophies in
direct contact with fibrous
objects. Keep display case
locked. |
Keep display case
locked |
| Books |
Lighting restricted to 50 lux.
If opening books for display,
do not open beyond 160°. Do
not lay them completely flat
since spines are not designed
to take this pressure.
Support the thin side of an
opened book with
conservation foam blocks or
with a fixed ‘book cradle’ |
Lighting does not exceed
200 lux. Do no open books
for display if they can not
be properly supported. No
direct sunlight. |
No direct sunlight. |
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