Tip #17: Do wear gloves when handling photographs.

One of the most pervasive myths about archivists is that we all wear those darn white cotton gloves all day every day. If you’ve been following us for a while, you might remember that we’ve already debunked this myth. (Check out Tip #3 on why you do NOT want to wear them when handling things such as paper documents and most books.) But today we’re going to be talking about one of the rare times you do want to wear gloves: when handling photographs.

So why is paper safe to handle without gloves, but photographs aren't? For one, gloves hinder your dexterity. Since paper is more likely to tear than a photograph, this lack of dexterity becomes an imminent threat. Secondly, due to the emulsion layer on photographs (aka the shiny part on newer photographs), body oil can leave marks that may not appear on paper.

If you have to handle photographs without gloves (which is not recommended), be sure to wash your hands first and only pick up the photograph by the edges. Never touch the emulsion. You can also lift up the photograph by sliding a piece of paper beneath a corner and using the paper as a sort of tray.

Want to learn more about preserving photographs? Check out our webinar on YouTube!