Warsaw espresso. Home family archive — how to effectively protect photographs and documents?

In many houses unique family memorabilia are kept — old photographs, cards, certificates, diplomas, postcards, letters or documents passed down from generation to generation. Although we often do not see them as monuments, they are an invaluable testimony to family, local and social history. Over time, however, paper and photographic materials undergo natural aging, and their condition can be further aggravated by improper storage, excessive sunlight, moisture, temperature changes or contact with unsuitable materials.

During the meeting, participants will learn the basic rules of preventive protection of documents and photographs stored in home conditions. In an accessible and practical way, the most common risks affecting the durability of family souvenirs and preventive measures that everyone can implement independently in their own home will be discussed. The conversation will be an opportunity to better understand the processes occurring in paper and photographic materials, as well as to learn about simple methods to reduce their degradation.

During the meeting, the issues of climate influence on the state of preservation of paper and photographic objects will also be briefly presented. Participants will learn about the importance of temperature, humidity and light, and why some commonly used document storage materials — such as plain cardboard, plastic T-shirts, or certain types of adhesives — can adversely affect historic and historic objects.

In the second part of the course there will be a short practical workshop, during which simple ways of making protective dust jackets and covers for storing documents and photographs will be shown. Participants will find that even from the materials available in most homes, solutions can be prepared that allow for safer storage of family souvenirs and reduce the risk of their further destruction.

In conclusion, a list of proven stores and suppliers offering specialized archival materials, intended for long-term storage of documents, photographs and other objects of historical and sentimental value will be presented.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own photographs, documents and family memorabilia. They will be a “living” material for discussing the conservation of collections and will make it possible to relate the discussed issues to concrete examples. In the workshop part, people will also be able to prepare individual protective covers for their objects, adapted to their format and method of storage, as well as consult basic issues related to their state of preservation and further care of the home archive.

Piotr Popławski - a graduate of the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Warsaw (2009-2014) and the Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Art Departments at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw (2012-2018).

Since 2019 he has been working as a paper conservator in the Paper and Photography Conservation Laboratory in the Collection Conservation Department of the Warsaw Museum. Since 2024, he has been working as Deputy Chief Conservator of Collections. Author and co-author of scientific articles and conference presentations on the conservation and protection of historic objects, cultural goods and works of art. Reviewer of scientific articles devoted to the above fields.

Since 2019 he has been professionally engaged in teaching historical calligraphy (including 2 years he worked as a tutor for the company Kaligraf, in its branch in Warsaw). She has experience in teaching activities for children, young people and adults (workshops for the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, for the Warsaw Prague Museum, workshops on the basics of illuminating for the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, and numerous individual workshops for Houses of Culture and schools).

Warsaw espresso — intimate meetings for people 60+ consist of two parts: a tour of the exhibition and conversations over coffee or tea.

Education partner of the Warsaw Museum — PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A.

www.gkpge.pl