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scrapbooks



I assume you are talking about Creative Memories.  I guess I'm sticking my
neck out here but may I say a word or two in their defense?  I believe the
literature claims they used Henry Wilhelm, author of The Permanence and
Care of Color Photographs, as a consultant  The materials are acid- and
lignin-free.  They also strongly encourage you to document all the "what,
where, when and why" of the photographs.  They also recommend storing
photos in good environments (away from light, humidity, etc.).  Photo
corners and sleeves are available for those who don't want to use the
double-sided tape directly on their photos.

On the other hand, they do encourage cutting photos (they call it
cropping),  which certainly isn't a recommended archival procedure.  They
recommend against cutting "older" photographs (also polaroids) but the
problem with this reasoning is that eventually photos taken today will be
"old" to another generation.  They also don't tell people that color photos
aren't going to last as long as the B&W's.  (A fact that I try very hard
not to think about since my of my photos are in color.)   In addition,
putting these photos in albums requires one to put their fingers all over
the photos but nothing is said about cleaning off the oils off the photos
when done.  No doubt, folks with CM albums will find their finger prints
have been preserved along with their photos!  (By the way, does anyone
recommend - - or not recommend -- PEC-12 Archival Photographic Emulsion
Cleaner?  This is supposed to safely clean finger prints, dirt, etc. of
photos.)

OK, by now you've guessed it...I've attended a few CM classes myself
(gasp!).  My sister used to be a consultant and begged me to try it (she
was trying to drum up business)--what could I do?!! She's my sister!!  She
would have never forgiven me if I hadn't helped her out.  I've been hiding
my dark secret from my archival collegues ever since for fear of being
shunned!!  :)

I still feel nervous about certain aspects of CM and I'm certainly not
endorsing it to archival patrons but in my opinion, CM is far better than
the album of wonderful old photos my 71 year old mother has of her parents
and great grandparents but no information.  I have repeatedly asked her to
identify the photos for me but she hasn't done it yet.  Right now, they are
just neat old photos of strangers which carry no personal meaning for me.
I'm afraid that she'll never get around to it or forget so much that the
information won't get saved and I'll be clueless about my family history.
I'll just have to keep after her to do it.  Sigh!

 OK...fire away..just be gentle!

I'd love to hear other's opinions, too, especailly about the PEC-12.


At 09:19 AM 8/7/2001 -0700, you wrote:
>Just this morning on the FOX news there was a big thing
about>scrapbooking... they have all the little stickers and special cutters
and paper and everything all there; for a small fee you can ravage and
destroy your family archives, excuse me, I mean create cute scrapbooks, to
your heart's content.  ....
 At least they claim to use archival supplies, not the rubber
cement-sticky-tape of the past.

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