Storing Multiple Photos in the Same Folder

I was wondering if, from a preservation standpoint, it is okay to store multiple photographs in the same folder. I have placing sheets of permalife acid-free, lignin-free, buffered paper between the photos to prevent them from damaging one another, and the folders are also acid-free, lignin-free, buffered. Thanks, Miranda

What an excellent question! It sounds like you are doing things well already in selecting your storage materials.

Ideally, photos would be stored in their own envelopes but budget and space realities often make this impossible. However, you can safely store multiple photographs in the same folder. Interleaving should be done if the photographs in a single folder are of different sizes (not a great practice but I understand it may be necessary). All photographs in a folder should be of the same photographic type—such as cyanotype, platinum prints, silver gelatin DOPs, and the like. If you are unsure of what type of photograph you have, the Graphics Atlas is a phenomenal resource for learning about photographs and their care. So, keep up the good work!