PRACTICAL VIEW : Keeping Those Memories Alive

Family photos are among the most commonly cherished possessions, but they are seldom properly cared for.

“The two biggest destroyers of old photographs are improper framing and storage in damp basements or attics,” says Debbie Hess Norris, associate director of the art conservation program at the University of Delaware-Winterthur.

She offers some tips on care:

* Use a mat when framing photos. This prevents the photo from sticking to the glass in humid weather. Display photos out of direct light because ultraviolet rays destroy them.

* Store photos in a center hall closet on one of the main floors of the house. Both attic and basement are susceptible to dampness.

* Place each rare photo in its own protective cover. If the collection is large, making the covers prohibitively expensive, collect them in archival-quality boxes or photo albums.

* Don’t use magnetic album pages for photos. Pictures often get stuck to the adhesive backing, which deteriorates over time.

* When storing photos or slides, use polyethylene or polypropylene instead of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sleeves, which are more unstable. Write on an enclosure, not on the photo. If you do write on a photograph, use pencil.

* If a treasured photograph needs restoring, find a photo conservator. Local historic societies and museums may be able to provide references.