Pop Quiz: What Threats Endanger Archival Materials?

Pests or mold? Correct—they spread fast and demand urgent action. What about non-spreading threats? Mechanical wear, fading, or foxing are great examples!

Prioritize by focusing on spreading threats first, but don’t neglect stable ones. And don’t worry—an emergency plan (coming soon!) will help you stay prepared.

Father Cesare Spigardi, a missionary from Mantua, Italy, became a pillar of St. Louis’ Italian community in the early 1900s. He founded churches like Our Lady Help of Christians and St. Charles Borromeo, bridging linguistic and cultural divides among immigrants. Beyond his pastoral role, he mediated disputes, supported the poor, and established St. Domenico’s Italian Orphan Home.

His work left a lasting impact, with parish records on FamilySearch.org offering valuable insights for genealogists exploring Italian ancestry in St. Louis.

Feuding with in-laws may be a sitcom staple, but in 1909, Mr. M.J. Murphy took his dispute to a higher authority: the church. After his son-in-law reneged on a 20-year-old promise to raise his children Catholic, Mr. Murphy sought documentation to bolster his case. The church’s swift reply? No record of dispensation.

Floods, leaks, and sprinkler malfunctions can devastate collections, especially when water reaches 100%. Recovery depends on the materials affected—plastic on metal shelves fares differently than parchment on wood. While comprehensive solutions vary, preparation is key: monitor environments, create an emergency plan, and always store items at least half a foot off the ground.

Genealogy isn’t just about uncovering family secrets or distant noble ties—it’s about the joy of discovery. Take the Roche family, for example: tracing their roots back to 17th-century Cork County, Ireland, revealed baptismal records from a village called Castletownroche. Even more exciting, Blackwater Castle, the heart of Castletownroche, still stands today, connecting the past to the present in a tangible way. How far back have you traced your family tree?

Prevention is key when it comes to mold in archives. Keeping humidity and temperature in check is crucial, as mold thrives in conditions between 65-70% humidity and 75°F-85°F. If an outbreak does occur, prioritize personal protective equipment (PPE) and, at the first sign of health issues, contact a conservator.

Searching for an ancestor's headstone is a classic genealogical activity for good reason! Beyond death certificates and obituaries, cemetery records like plot maps and burial registers can reveal hidden family connections.

Mold is every archivist's nightmare, thriving in humidity and mild temperatures, feeding on our precious collections. Like a B-Movie monster, it lurks until the right conditions activate it, causing irreversible damage unless fully removed.

December 3rd marks the birthdays of Robert, Leonard, and Edward Thornhill—not triplets, but brothers born years apart on the same day in New Jersey. A remarkable coincidence for genealogical records!

Uninvited guests in archives, like bookworms (not actual worms!), can cause significant damage to collections. To prevent infestations, maintain stable temperature and humidity levels, and avoid crumbs, especially during the holidays!

Census records aren’t always straightforward—like when 7-year-old Osca Bischoff was listed as an “inmate.” In 1870, this term referred broadly to residents of places like hotels, orphanages, or asylums!

Foxing, the brownish-red discoloration on paper, is often debated as being caused by mold, oxidation, or other factors. While repairing it should be left to professionals, you can preserve the document by digitizing it and storing it in proper, buffered housing at low humidity.

Passports weren’t consistently required for U.S. travel until WWII, but Edward Gut’s 19th-century application highlights their utility. Instead of a photo, it included a written description—like having a “mouth, proportional”!

Light is a major threat to collection preservation, especially for thermal paper. Exposure to light causes fading or darkening of the ink, often seen on receipts. To protect such materials, store them in a cool, dry, and dark environment, and consider making photocopies on more stable paper.

For Neil Parker and Mabel Beakley, Halloween 1927 wasn’t just spooky—it was romantic too! By then, the holiday was already a lively tradition, perfect for their memorable wedding day.

To determine if paper is archival quality, examine its composition. Paper made with lignin will turn acidic over time, causing it to become brittle and yellow. True archival paper is both acid-free and lignin-free.

Acidic paper, much like moths to fabric, can cause irreversible damage to your documents, making them brittle and discolored. To prevent this, use buffered materials like folders and paper to create a protective barrier.

Rev. Caesar Spigardi, known for arranging marriages in St. Louis’s Italian community, helped Italian workmen secure brides from their hometowns—often meeting for the first time right before the wedding!

Surname distribution maps visualize where surnames appeared in a specific time and place, helping narrow down ancestral regions—though they’re less useful for common names or unrelated sources

Gloves may seem like the perfect solution to protect your collection, but it's more complicated than that. Consider the materials you're handling, dexterity, and safety concerns. Always wash your hands and do research before handling items.