Preserving Photographs
Creating “Proof Sheets” is the best way to prepare photographs for longevity.
In 1985 I retrieved more than 200 photographs from our Georgia family home. These photos were from 1870-1985; however, I also had photos and other documents that extended the date to 2006. There were tintypes, ambrotypes, sepia tone photos, hand drawn 16 x 20 portraits, and many others from different photo albums. After removing them from their home of decades, I took samples to The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York City. There I met with an archivist who shared the best way to protect and reproduce the photos for display. The archivist also referred me to a photography studio that they often used.
Representatives at the photography studio advised me to have “proof sheets” and negatives made to reduce the cost of duplicating so many photos. This would allow individual photos to be made as needed.
Here are “proof sheet” samples of some of the photos. This process allowed me to preserve our family photo history while also putting together select photos for my first exhibit.
