Page 30 - August 2018

deterioration of the items it is attached to. If matting cannot
be removed easily, then consult a conservator.

Enclosures for Books
Rare, valuable Masonic books should be stored in custom-
made boxes designed to give them structural support and to
protect them from dust dirt, and light. Again, these boxes
should be made of acid-free, lignin-free paperboard, which
will protect the books from the acidity and oils in leather
bindings that migrate into paper and cloth bindings of
nearby books and speed up their deterioration.
All damaged books should be boxed. Two types of boxes
are recommended for preserving books: clamshell boxes
and phase boxes. Clamshell boxes give the most support, so
you should use them for storing extremely valuable books.
Figure 3. Boxes are available in a variety of sizes and shapes to match
the items stored in them. Photograph courtesy of University Products. T ey consist of a case and two trays that f t into one another.
You will need a conservator to make this type of box. Phase
that specialized storage materials are only slightly more boxes give less support than clamshell boxes, so you can
expensive than standard offi ce supplies, and they will greatly use them for books of lesser value. T ey arc made of two
lengthen the life of your documents and photographs. pieces of acid-free paperboard wrapped around the book
Paper and paperboard boxes and folders are recommended and sealed with Velcro (see Figure 4). You can make these
because they are opaque, which means they can protect boxes yourself at your lodge.
documents from exposure to light. Enclosures should
be acid-free as well as lignin-free. Acid-free paper and
paperboard have a neutral pH. They are made with very
little added acid and a large amount of alkaline chemical
that neutralizes the acids that are there. Lignin is an
unstable, light-sensitive component of wood pulp that
breaks down into acid compounds as it ages
See-through plastic sleeves are helpful for storing
documents or photographs because there is less need to
handle documents that are visible. Before buying these
sleeves, read the labels on the packages carefully. Some
types of plastic, such as those containing plasticizers or
vinyls, can damage documents. Mylar D, a nearly inert
polyester, is recommended.
Polyethylene and polypropylene that do not contain
plasticizers can also be used for storing paper items.
Avoid using plastic sleeves that contain polyvinyl chloride Figure 4. You can make phase boxes yourself using acid-free paperboaid.
(PVC). which reacts readily with many other materials Photograph courtesy of University Products.
and can damage historic documents and photographs.
Mylar D is best for storing photographs. Sleeves should Each box should f t well around the book inside it. If the
be slightly larger than the photographs, should not exert box is too loose, it will not give the needed support, and
pressure on them during insertion or storage, and should the book will have room to shif . If the box is too tight, it
not distort their shape. The sleeves should be stored fl at, can damage the edges of the book cover. T inner books or
but with no pressure from piling other photographs on pamphlets can be stored in acid-free envelopes, although
top. Many mounted prints become curved over time, and these envelopes provide less support.
fl attening them can crack both the emulsion and the mount.
Consult with a conservator or archivist before attempting STORAGE METHODS
to fl atten photographs. Unmounted prints should be stored Storage Methods for Documents and Photographs
in rigid, supportive folders or sleeves made of either acid- Once you have all your documents in folders, you
free paper or inert plastic. You can insert a piece of acid- need to put the folders into appropriate boxes. Only
free paperboard into the plastic sleeve, under the photo, to similar items should be stored together. For example,
provide this support. do not store single sheets of paper or photographs in
Remove all lodge charters, certifi cates, and photographs the same box as books or pamphlets. Heavy or bulky
from their frames before storing them in individual objects should be stored separately from lighter, smaller
enclosures as described above. Also remove matting, ones. T e dif erence in bulk and weight causes uneven
which is often made of acidic paper and can accelerate the pressure in the boxes, and can damage the items inside.
Page 30 Montana Freemason August 2018