Genealogy Chat

What is the best way to store certificates? Are plastic pockets/wallets o.k.? What do you recommend? Thanks.

Thats the way I keep them, in plastic wallets from Tesco's or similar places and in a Hinge folder

It's a good idea to use acid-free pockets as over time the acid eats the certs. WH SMith sell A4 acid-free hole-punched pockets at reasonable price. nell

This is probably a ridiculously stupid Q, but I suppose they are printed on acid free paper? Otherwise all the acid free wallets in the world won't help!! Merry --- who keeps hers loose, in a hanging file in a filing cabinet drawer :o((

Merry, it's not a stupid question. I'll bet not many people know the answer to that. I certainly don't lol

Thanks folks. Merry, you've certainly raised a valid point!!!!! Sue

I have emailed Southport........should I get a reply, I'll post it here! Merry

Hi all, First of all I scan mine in and make copies of them then I laminate them - saves them getting fingerprints, stains and everything else on. Kim

Ive bought a posh 'Certificates' album from a genealogy supplier. Cost about £15 and comes with about 10 double sided long certificate size inserts folders. Ive bought extra ones from them. http://www*my-history*co*uk/acatalog/Family_History_Hold-All*html Replace asterisks with full stops. They now have a fantastic genealogy 'hold all' which folds open flat but when closed looks like a brief case - to hold certs, notes, trees etc. £26. Very tempting.

Heather, I bought one of those long cert books and dont they all look smart in it,even bought the index cards to split the sections up;; the only problem I have came across is I have found my naana and grandads original wedding cert, from 1906 and its bigger than the envolope sleeve, so I had to put it into A3 plastic cover and stick down the overlap, and make holes to hold in book;;; but so proud of it;; Babs

Ive got the long one - it takes A3 size and yes, doesnt it look smart! I also got the acid free photo album for all my mum and dads old photos - if it protects them, well worth the money. And it does save me having a pile of certs on the blanket box just waiting for Ralph to chew them up or the photos just piled in a box. I think its worth getting them because it does keep everything safe and tidy - hopefully easy for one of the boys to find and keep when I kick the bucket! Have you seen the hold all - looks the business.

Make sure you copy all your old photos, as the originals won't normally be printed on acid-free paper. My granddad and g-granddad did lots of paintings and drawings, many of which are hanging in my house.....I am gradually paying for the acid paper and mounting boards to be removed from the back and re-done (by professional art restorers) .....this sorts out the spotting you see on old paper....Trouble is, it's quite expensive, but worth it! We are having about one done a year! LOL Merry

Kim, I don't know anything about this myself, but I've read on the boards before that the WORST thing you can do with certificates is laminate them. Can't tell you why, just that it's been said a good few times before. Kath. x

Some people laminate copies to use as placemats!! Merry

Thanks for that Kath - I didn't write that too clearly, I laminate the copies, the originals are safely stored away. - but good to let everyone know anyhow! Kim

Gosh Merry, You're soooo lucky to have those paintings and drawings. Has the artistic talent rubbed off on you by any chance? Sue.

Hi All, Someone put similiar question up last year, I responded and mentioned that I laminate mine as I thought it's the best way to keep them. I was told that the laminate pouches were not acid free and therefore over time the certificates would rot, I was advised to buy the acid free pockets from WH Smiths, they are cheap and I store my certificates in them in my 'certificate' file. I also make copies which I keep in the respective ancestors files. Regards Lou