Thomas Edison Autograph Collection Storage Advice

[Eggoman]

Hello All:

I REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT BASEBALL OR SPORTS MEMORABILIA - if this request is inappropriate, please delete it with my apologies! (Although Edison DID invent the light bulb, so he IS responsible for NIGHT baseball...sort of...)

Anyway, my "Grandfather-in-Law" Robert Park, worked as an Inspector for Thomas Edison at the Orange and Silver Lake Plants in the 1920s.

My In-Laws has JUST shown me a collection of 10+ HAND-WRITTEN memos, notes, letters, etc. between Grandpa Park and Edison regarding Resin Manufacturing, typically. All signed or initialed "E" or "Edison" or "Thos. A. Edison"

I do NOT believe that the family is interested in selling, however, we are seeking advice on how best to preserve them. What sort of protective pages should I use?

Can anyone offer me any assistance?

[antiquefootball]

I purchase acid-free folders and storage boxes from Gaylord Archival. Depending on whether or not you want to be able to display them or just pack them away, they have all kinds of preservation products used by museums.

http://www.gaylord.com/c/Preservation

[Eggoman]

Hey Chris:

I appreciate that!

[SetBuilder]

If you want the highest quality, most expensive, museum quality conservation supplies, check out Talas.

http://www.talasonline.com/Archival-Storage

[icollectDCsports]

There will likely be more specific advice forthcoming from others, but generally keep such items away from light and moisture/humidity. For paper such as that, I'd think there could be a risk of crumbling if handled and bent frequently, so you may want to place such items in acid-free, clear holders together with rigid, acid-free backers (particularly if there is no writing on the other side) to prevent flexing of the notes/letters. A good example would be the mylar bags and backer boards that are frequently used to store items such as comic books.

[SetBuilder]

If you have other letters, get a nice 3-ring binder and put the letters in acid-free sleeves.

You can make custom 3-ring binders with whatever text you want on the spine and outer covers on Zazzle. That's what I did for my Civil War letters.

https://www.zazzle.com/binders