Paper clips

In answer to the paper clip dilemma:  Plastic clips do considerable
damage and are therefore no longer recommended for use with
materials of long term value.  Because stainless steel clips are
expensive and cannot be distinguished from ordinary clips, their use
also may not help solve the "clip" problem. Strips of alkaline paper
(say 6 inches by 2 or 3 inches) may be placed between the clip and
the item being fastened. This paper barrier can then be folded back
on itself so that the ordinary metal paper clip comes into contact
only with a theoretically disposable piece of paper. If the clip
rusts, if will only damage the barrier paper, not the items being
fastened.  Cut the waste sheets short grain so that they are easier
to fold over the documents being fastened.

For more information, feel free to give me a call, or refer to any
of Mary Lynn Ritzenthaler's excellent publications on "Holdings
Maintenance," e.g.

    Preservation of Archival Records: Holdings Maintenance at the
        National Archives.  Technical Information Paper TIP 006;
        NTIS PB 90-169733\AS. Washington: NARA, 1990,

as well as her

    Preserving Archives and Manuscripts. Chicago: SAA, 1993.

Hilary A. Kaplan
Conservator
Georgia Department of Archives and History
404 656 2374

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:86
                 Distributed: Saturday, April 29, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-8-86-010
                                  ***