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Sue Bove: Hi, I'm Sue Bove. I'm the paper conservator at the
New York State Archives. Many of these drawings are delicate and
fragile. Not only because the papers support they are on can
tear, and you can have losses, but also the media that was used
to create them can smear or smudge onto your hands or onto
the item that is in closest proximity to them. What we would
like to recommend is that these items be stored in alkaline
folders. They are buffered with at least a 2% calcium carbonate.
They have a pH of 7 ½ or greater, and handling such
delicate materials is very important. We suggest not
touching the surface of the item; trying not to handle the
edges, particularly if they are delicate edges, and to use both
hands to support the item as you bring or transport them to their
folders. Here is paper called glassine paper. It is pH neutral
and it has a very, very smooth surface, and we recommend
placing a piece of this glassine on top of the pastel or the
crayon or the pencil, and many of these items can be stored in
one folder. Folders are a great level of protection, especially
if they are a little bit larger in the margin than the actual
item itself. But we also recommend putting this alkaline
folder into a storage container. This happens to be an alkaline
box, and folders and boxes should complement each other.