|  | Help and Resource Centre
On This Page:
Preserving Our Memories
Family History Collections
Why Acid Free Storage?
Preservation Help and Advice
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| Preservation Help and Advice
We have included helpful tips and archival information on the shop pages to assist you in choosing your archival products.
You can also return to the main Memory Boxes brochure site for more in depth product information, frequently asked questions and archival guides.
| The Importance of Preserving Our Memories
We all have memories, they mark the important times in our lives. Memories of special occasions, people and places. Sadly, memories do fade over time, so it is only natural that we collect memorable keepsakes such as photos, cards, diaries and gifts to help us remember.
However, we should not assume that these 'life markers' will also remain unchanged or undamaged in our current environment and it has become increasingly important to store your most precious mementoes correctly and safely to ensure their continued existence.
Because these treasures in your life deserve special protection to keep them safe Memory Boxes supply only high quality, acid free, archival products as used by museums, archivists and conservators.
All our special preservation boxes, albums and packing enclosures are made from tested, acid free materials designed to provide a protective storage environment for your memories.
|  Family History Collections
We are keen not only to preserve our own life memories but our growing interest in family history and past generations have created some remarkable historical life collections too.
Genealogy records and photographic images that represent a great deal of investment in time and money and unique family heirlooms that are too important to lose forever.
Memory Boxes understand the importance of these personal collections depicting the lives, skills, knowledge and history of our families. To help you protect and care for your own memories or your family life collection, Memory Boxes have put together a wide range of acid free preservation boxes and accessories.
| Why Acid Free Storage?
Acid is a natural ingredient of wood and cotton pulp used to make boxes and materials. This acid acts over time to weaken the structure of the box or fabric causing it to become brittle and crack. Storing items for long periods of time in such containers will lead to the migration of the acid from the container into the contents causing them to become yellow, brittle and fragile too.
The removal of active acids during the manufacturing process allows for the production of safer acid-free materials (with a chemical pH of 7.0 or higher). The range of archival products from Memory Boxes have all been manufactured as acid free for use by museums and archives for the long term safe storage of valuable and fragile items.
|  Other Preservation Factors
Storing your memories, keepsakes and precious collections in archivally safe, acid free storage containers is a large part of the battle of conservation. However, there are lots of other factors which need to be considered if you are serious about preservation.
For example, using a clear acid free sleeve for postcards or photos will reduce the risks of acid migration from other items in close proximity and from the effects of frequent handling but will not offer much protection from the damaging effects of light.
Opaque paper sleeves that are acid free will protect from light but will increase the risks from over handling since the contents have to be removed from their protective cover for viewing. You need to plan the storage of your collection very carefully and select the most appropriate solution for its contents.
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