Caring for Historic Photographs: A Guide to Preserving Your 19th Century Images
Historic photographs are among the most valuable objects in a family archive or Civil War collection. A photograph may be the only surviving likeness of an ancestor, soldier, or historical figure, and the information written on its back can sometimes be just as valuable as the image itself. Yet photographs from the 19th century are surprisingly fragile. The photographic image, the paper or metal it is attached to, the cardboard mount, and even the original case or album can all deteriorate over time.
Fortunately, preserving historic photographs does not necessarily require a museum. A few basic precautions—proper handling, appropriate storage, a stable environment, and protection from light—can greatly extend the life of these irreplaceable objects.
Understand What You Have
One of the first steps in caring for an old photograph is understanding what kind of photograph you have. Different photographic processes have different preservation needs. The 19th century saw an extraordinary variety of photographic processes. Daguerreotypes and ambrotypes were housed in protective cases, while tintypes placed the image directly onto a thin sheet of lacquered iron. Paper photographs eventually became common, including the carte-de-visite (CDV) and cabinet card.
Cartes-de-visite were particularly popular from the late 1850s through the 1870s. Measuring approximately 2½ by 4 inches, these small photographs were mounted on cardstock and were frequently produced in multiple copies for family and friends. Cabinet cards, which became increasingly popular during the 1870s, were larger, generally measuring approximately 4¼ by 6½ inches. Both formats became important forms of family and social history before inexpensive amateur photography made snapshots commonplace.
Tintypes are especially common in Civil War-era collections. Despite their name, tintypes were not actually made from tin. The photographic image was created on a thin sheet of lacquered iron. They were produced in a variety of sizes, from tiny “gem” photographs to much larger plates. Their metal support makes them somewhat different from paper photographs, but it does not make them indestructible. Bent edges, scratches, corrosion, and damage to the photographic surface can all threaten the image.
Knowing the photographic process can help you decide how to handle and store the item.
Handle Historic Photographs Carefully
Perhaps the simplest preservation measure is also one of the most important: handle historic photographs as little as possible. Before handling photographs, make sure your hands are clean and dry. Oils and perspiration from your fingers can transfer to photographic surfaces and cause damage over time. When possible, hold photographs by their edges and avoid touching the image itself. Support the entire photograph rather than allowing it to bend or flex.
Photographs should also never be dragged across one another. This is particularly important with tintypes because their metal edges can scratch neighboring photographs. Keeping individual photographs separated in protective enclosures greatly reduces this risk.
Be especially careful with cased photographs such as daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and some tintypes. If an early photograph is housed in its original case, do not attempt to remove the photograph from the case simply to put it into another enclosure. The case is part of the object’s history and may provide important physical protection.
Keep Photographs Away From Heat, Moisture, and Light
The environment in which photographs are stored can have a greater effect on their survival than almost anything else. The National Archives recommends keeping family papers and photographs in a cool, stable environment. Temperatures should remain below 75°F, while relative humidity should remain below 65 percent. At the same time, extremely dry conditions should be avoided because relative humidity below approximately 15 percent can make materials brittle.
For most collectors, the practical lesson is simple: don’t store historic photographs in an attic, basement, garage, or other location subject to extreme temperature or humidity changes.
Avoid places where water leaks or flooding could occur. Photographs should be stored off the floor and away from pipes, windows, and known sources of moisture. Food and water should also be kept away from collections because they can attract insects and rodents.
Light is another major threat. Historic photographic materials can fade or deteriorate when exposed to light for long periods. If you display an important photograph, keep it out of direct sunlight and away from fluorescent lighting. UV-filtering glazing can provide additional protection when framing photographs.
In other words, that beautiful antique photograph probably shouldn’t spend years sitting in a sunny window.
Choose the Right Storage Materials
The materials touching a photograph matter. Ordinary paper, cardboard, adhesives, and plastics can release chemicals that contribute to deterioration. The National Archives recommends storage containers made from acid-free, lignin-free, or appropriately buffered materials and notes that photographic storage materials should pass the Photographic Activity Test (PAT). Containers should also be appropriately sized so that photographs do not bend, fold, or shift around inside them.
Archival paper and certain stable plastics, including polyester and polyethylene, are commonly used for photographic storage. Polyester provides a clear, sturdy enclosure for individual photographs, while polyethylene is a more flexible alternative. Acid-free paper enclosures are also useful and have the advantage of allowing the material to breathe rather than trapping moisture.
For a collection of CDVs and cabinet cards, individual archival sleeves or envelopes can protect each photograph from dust, fingerprints, and abrasion. The protected photographs can then be organized in appropriately sized archival boxes.
When writing identification information, write on the enclosure rather than directly on the photograph whenever possible. An archival pencil or appropriate archival marker can be used on suitable card stock or envelopes.
Special Care for Tintypes
Tintypes deserve particular attention because they are so common in 19th-century collections and Civil War photography. Because the image is on a thin metal plate, tintypes can have sharp or bent edges that may damage other photographs. Individual archival polyethylene envelopes are an effective way to keep them separated. Acid-free card stock can also provide additional support for thin or vulnerable tintypes. (
If a tintype is housed in an original 19th-century album or case, resist the temptation to dismantle it. Instead, consider digitizing the image while preserving the original album or case as an artifact.
Tintypes can also contain remarkable amounts of detail despite their small size. Creating a high-resolution digital copy allows you to enlarge the photograph, share it with relatives, or use the digital version for research without repeatedly handling the original. If there is writing or a photographer’s imprint on the back, digitize that side as well.
Don’t Forget the Back of the Photograph
For historians and genealogists, the back of a photograph can be as important as the front. A photographer’s studio imprint can identify where the photograph was taken. A handwritten name can identify the sitter. A date, address, military unit, or family note can provide clues that help connect the photograph to other records.
For this reason, always digitize both sides of a historic photograph when possible. The information on the reverse should not be overlooked simply because the photographic image is on the front. Archival Methods specifically recommends scanning the backs of CDVs, cabinet cards, and tintypes when information is present.
This is particularly important for Civil War photographs. A seemingly ordinary photograph may contain an identifying notation such as a soldier’s name or regiment that transforms an unidentified portrait into a documented historical artifact.
Digitize Before You Handle and Share
Digitization is one of the best ways to reduce unnecessary handling. Creating a good digital copy means that family members, researchers, and friends can view and share the image without repeatedly handling the original. It also gives you a backup should the physical photograph ever be damaged or lost.
Scan photographs at a sufficiently high resolution to capture the detail present in the original. Small CDVs and tintypes can contain considerably more detail than is apparent when viewing them in their original size. High-resolution scanning allows those details to be enlarged and examined.
If you do not have a scanner, a carefully made digital photograph taken with a phone or camera can still be useful. The important thing is to create a faithful record while the original is still in good condition.
Be Careful With Old Albums
Historic photograph albums present a special preservation challenge. Nineteenth-century albums may contain CDVs, cabinet cards, tintypes, and other photographs that were inserted into specially designed pages. Although it may be tempting to remove the photographs and reorganize them, doing so can destroy evidence about their original arrangement and relationships.
Whenever possible, preserve the album as an object. Digitize the pages and photographs, but avoid attempting to flatten, repair, or disassemble a fragile album yourself. Archival Methods recommends protecting historic albums with archival materials and, where appropriate, using buffered tissue between pages.
The same principle applies to old scrapbooks: don’t attempt a restoration project simply because something looks old or damaged. Stabilization and preservation are often safer than trying to make an object look new again.
Display With Care
Of course, historic photographs are meant to be enjoyed. Preservation does not mean hiding everything in a box forever.
If you want to display a particularly important photograph, use archival matting and framing materials. An 8-ply archival mat can provide more space between the photograph and the glazing than a standard 4-ply mat. This is especially useful for cabinet cards and tintypes because the photographic surface may have some depth or curvature.
Use UV-filtering glazing and keep framed photographs away from direct sunlight. Even with protective glazing, permanent display should be approached cautiously. Consider rotating photographs periodically rather than leaving an original on display for years.
Preserve the Photograph—and the Story
A 19th-century photograph is more than an old picture. It can be a piece of family history, military history, local history, or social history.
The best preservation strategy is therefore a combination of proper storage, careful handling, environmental control, and documentation. Identify the people pictured whenever possible. Record photographer information, dates, locations, inscriptions, and family stories associated with the image. Digitize both sides. Then protect the original using appropriate archival materials.
For collectors of Civil War photographs, these precautions are especially important. A tintype of an unidentified soldier, a CDV bearing a photographer’s imprint, or a cabinet card with a handwritten name may represent a piece of history that cannot be replaced.
You don’t need a museum vault to become the caretaker of that history. Keeping photographs cool, dry, protected from light, safely enclosed, and carefully documented can help ensure that the faces captured by 19th-century photographers remain available for generations to come.
Sources and Further Reading
- Backlog – Archivists & Historians, “Preserving Photographs: A Practical Guide.”
Preserving Photographs: A Practical Guide - Archival Methods, “Tintypes | How to Archivally Preserve Your Family Photographs.”
Tintypes | How to Archivally Preserve Your Family Photographs - Archival Methods, “Cabinet Cards & Carte-de-Visite | How to Archivally Preserve Your Family Photographs.”
Cabinet Cards & Carte-de-Visite | How to Archivally Preserve Your Family Photographs - U.S. National Archives, “How to Preserve Family Archives (papers and photographs).”
National Archives: How to Preserve Family Archives - Research Arsenal, Archival and Preservation Blog Posts
