Marcus Butler
23 April 2015: As Australians reflect on the Centenary of Anzac, many will be dusting off their ancestors' medals, reflecting on old black and white photographs or rereading time-worn letters from the front.
University of Canberra cultural heritage and conservation expert Mona Soleymani said ensuring those items are properly cared for and stored for future generations may be a good way to commemorate this period.
Dr Soleymani said while some people donate their items to museums, such as the Australian War Memorial, others want to keep possession of the links to their family's service themselves, but they should make sure their most precious keepsakes are cared for, to be appreciated by future generations.
"Those Australians who choose to keep a hold of these mementos and records — some of which will be 100 years old or more — should make sure they are treating them in the right way to ensure they last," she said.
"Sometimes, people have no idea of the many scientific approaches for preserving historical artefacts, but I think it is a good opportunity for people to become a little more familiar with the heritage conservation field."
One of the most cherished items held by families are the medals awarded for service, but while the metal itself may be more robust than other items, it still needs care as it ages, Dr Soleymani explained.
She said that wooden storage boxes have been used traditionally for medals, but an inert plastic or metal box is going to be better for them in the longer term. A clean food-grade plastic lunchbox is a good, affordable alternative.
"Wooden cabinets and display cases, particularly when new, can emit acidic vapours that can corrode many metals, oak cabinets in particular should be avoided. Proper storage can protect medals from dust and pollutants, dry silica gel can be placed in with them to maintain a low relative humidity as well."
Military records, diaries and home-bound letters recount the stories of everyday life during conflict for a sailor, soldier, airman or woman and are often the most precious, but delicate war-related relics for Australian families.
Having completed her PhD on paper conservation, Dr Soleymani said particular care should be taken with these items as time goes by.
"Scanning old letters or photographs to a computer produces a copy and means that any future deterioration won't mean the item is lost entirely.
"Adhesives like sticky-tape and contact should never be used on delicate paper items, as they cause damage and lead to deterioration. Similarly, lamination is an irreversible process and it's not used in conservation practice," she said.
"Instead, placing documents in a good quality archival envelope, a plastic sleeve, or even a food-grade ziplock bag will prolong an item's life."
"Keeping the item out of the light as much as possible will also help avoid pigments and inks fading," Dr Soleymani said.
Textiles such as old uniforms or flags are best kept in cool, dry places away from light and protected from pests, physical damage and pollutants. Storing these objects flat in an acid-free box is a good solution and if they need to be folded, pad the creases with soft clean fabric or tissue paper.
Dr Soleymani also suggested objects which are suffering damage from pests could be placed in a freezer in a sealed bag for a week to be rid of them. These objects should be allowed to return to room temperature before the bag is opened and then placed in proper storage.
"People with heritage items should consult a professional conservator for advice specific to their items so they can preserve them for generations to come," Dr Soleymani said.
