Where should you store your valuable old photos, books, and papers? The attic or the basement?

Neither, says historian Brian Grubbs, who suggests a closet on the ground floor. "The fluctuation of temperature and relative humidity compromise the structural integrity of your old diaries and family heirlooms. A closet on the main floor will retain similar environmental conditions as the rest of the household. As long as you keep your home at a reasonable and stable temperature, then the closet should follow suit."

Grubbs, together with Teresa Hernandez, works at the Library Center where they are developing a grant-funded database and web site called "Community and Conflict: The Impact of the Civil War in the Ozarks."

In researching this topic, Grubbs and Hernandez have examined hundreds of documents and photographs in family collections and in archives and museums, so they've seen what improper storage can do to these prized possessions.

"The key to protecting historical items is providing a stable environment," he said. "High relative humidity and temperature will allow for mold growth, while low relative humidity and temperature can cause paper to become brittle."

Light is also the enemy. "Objects absorb light, starting a chemical reaction resulting in bleaching or yellowing. Light can also cause paper fibers to become very brittle," explained Grubbs. "Damage caused by light is irreversible and perpetual and builds up over time."

Artificial light sources such as incandescent and fluorescent lamps cause damage, but sunlight is the worse, so if you are thinking about displaying grandpa's diary on the end table, you might think again. "If an object is kept outdoors for 45 sunny days, it will receive the same amount of damage as it would in 100 years of being kept indoors," he said.

Grubbs recommends a simple solution: store your stuff in appropriate pH neutral, lignin-free archival boxes and folders to greatly increase its life span. Storage containers made from polyester, Mylar, polyethylene and ceramic are also good.

For more information about how to store your historical papers and books, check out "Preservation of Library and Archival Materials" from the Northeast Document Conservation Center.

If you'd like to consult with Grubbs about storage techniques, e-mail him at briang@thelibrary.org.

KEEP YOUR TREASURES AWAY FROM THESE

• Foam rubber, cardboard, wood
  
• Metal paper clips, rubber bands
  
• Masking tape, pen ink
  
• Paint, stain, lamps