Many individuals contact the Missouri History Museum for advice on caring for their family books, documents, photographs, textiles and other historic artifacts. Most items will last longer if kept in a climate-controlled, secure, clean environment out of strong light.  Storage boxes or framing materials - anything touching the object - should be made of archival-quality materials.

Some resources for more detailed advice on preserving family treasures

• Resources for Private and Family Collections from Northeast Document Conservation Center
• Recommended reading: Caring for your Collections
• For a list of local conservators and vendors of archival-quality supplies, e-mail the library at library@mohistory.org.