HELPING YOU PRESERVE  TODAY’S MEMORIES FOR TOMORROW’S GENERATIONS.™

A very common item to preserve is newsprint.  You've probably clipped family related articles like obituaries or engagement announcements, while the historians like to keep papers and articles of newsworthy events, like an election.  But newspapers are not printed on archival-quality paper.  Because of its high acid and lignin content, newsprint is more challenging to preserve.  Acid is what causes paper to become brittle and deteriorate.  Lignin, although not an acid,  promotes acidic reactions when exposed to heat, light, high humidity, or atmospheric pollutants.  [Lignin is a chemical compound found in the cell walls of trees whose purpose is to strengthen the tree's structure.]

Newspaper preservation can proceed on two paths - information (content of the article) and physical (the actual clipping/paper).

If the information is your focus, consider photocopying the clipping using acid free, buffered paper on a commercial copier.  The National Archives has a peel test to evaluate the ink retention of a copier, which you can run if so interested.  Alternatively, you can scan and store the clipping digitally.

Most likely, you'll want to preserve the actual clipping or newspaper.  There's nothing like looking at an actual article from the past to feel a sense of history!  The following are recommended steps:

1. Optional: neutralize the acid in the paper by spraying one side of each clipping with a deacdification spray, such as Bookkeeper.  This also applies a buffering layer.
2. Place a sheet of acid-free buffered paper behind the clipping, then slip them into a polyester film sleeve.
3. Put the polyester sleeves in file folders of acid-free, alkaline buffered materials.

Finally, put your newspapers and file folders in archival storage boxes - ones that are acid free and buffered.  For added peace of mind, consider placing a full newspaper in an archival bag before putting it in the box.  This will further insure protection from air, water and dust.  Caution: NEVER store newsprint with other documents you want to preserve. The high acid content of the newsprint will contaminate the other documents.   When stored against another document, you will eventually observe a yellow silhouette of the clipping on the other document.

Choose storage locations for your boxes that minimize exposure  to dampness, heat, air pollutants, dust, insects and vermin.  An inside closet is a good location.  Keep them above the floor to avoid damage from unexpected water.

Newspapers are still a major means of communication today.  With a little care, the clippings that are important in your life today can be around for future generations.

See our newspaper preservation products.

Newspaper Preservation