Digital Humanities - Introduction: Handling Archival Materials

Do I need to use gloves?

The use of gloves in handling artifacts has always been a hotly debated topic. Fear not - in most cases you do not need to wear gloves to handle material. Often gloves can actually make the situation worse - cotton gloves can catch on material.

However, some materials such as negative photographs, can be very vulnerable to the oils on human skin so in cases such as this, gloves may need to be worn. If in doubt, you can always ask an archivist.

In every case, it is best to touch the material as little as possible - the less it's handled, the less chance there is for material to be damaged. Tools such as bone folders can hep to reduce material to skin contact.

Before undertaking digitisation of archival materials, it is important to note the general best practices which should be followed:

1. Wash and dry your hands before handling archival material to help ensure that dirt and oils do not transfer onto the materials. Do not use lotion or hand sanitiser before handling materials.
2. Try to handle the document as little as possible.
3. Avoid leaning on or putting items on top of archival documents.
4. Leave archival materials on the table and avoid holding them while you are reading.
5. Use the preservation aids provided (such as pillows or book supports) to ensure that documents are fully supported.
6. If handling books, turn the pages with care, one at a time. They should be lifted from undamaged and non-text areas whenever possible. 
7. When lifting or carrying items, use both hands to support as much of the item as possible.
8. Only use pencils for your notes, as pens are not permitted around archival materials.
9. Avoid using flash photography.
10. Ensure that you keep the documents in the same order in which they are found.

If you are unsure about how to handle a document, ask a member of staff for advice or assistance.

Specialist materials may require specially catered approaches to handling. Information around handling specialist material can sometimes be found online. However, it's always best to consult an archivist before taking on difficult materials. If you have any queries or concerns surrounding the handling of material, contact Special Collections at the University of Exeter: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/special-collections/.