Photographic Materials

Gloves should be worn at all times when consulting photographic materials- we suggest nitrile gloves. The natural oils in your skin will damage the image.
Items should be handled one at a time and by the edges only.
All loose photographic items on paper should be stored in polyester sleeves. Photos can then be stored in acid free folders. A wide range of sizes of photographic sleeves and acid free storage folders is available from Cheshire Archives and Local Studies.
Photographs in non-archival quality albums (coloured pages, PVC enclosures etc) should be removed, kept in order and put into an acid free album using acid free photo corners.
If you have other types of photographic material, e.g. on glass or tin, contact the Conservation Team at Cheshire Archives and Local Studies for advice on their storage needs.