PROCEDURES, WARNINGS, AND TIPS FOR END PROCESSOR
For examples of solutions to various housing and labeling, and other issues, see also:
General topics
(HD
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Format Restrictions)
Housing Solutions
Preservation / Conservation
Recycling and disposal
Sample Book (and rules) for non-standard labels and tabs
Single item manuscript end processing for the end processor
Supplies guidelines
(please also search "ctrl F" or scroll this page for additional topics)Anchor control F control F
General topics
ARCHIVAL ENVELOPES AS ENCLOSURES FOR MANUSCRIPTS
In general, we do not use archival envelopes of our own for permanent storage because pulling things in and out of an envelope can damage them. We prefer a 4-flap folder where the innermost flap completely covers the item, and extends to the edges of the inside of the folder. When we do use them for temporary enclosures (CMI, phase) for volumes that await boxing, we trim the top flap off so it doesn't catch on adjacent items.
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RE-HOUSING (TEMPORARY) FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS
In preparation for large digitization projects like Colonial North America, an entire collection may need to go to preservation. To assist Weissman Preservation Center (WPC) staff, the slide show: Temporary housing for preservation projects demonstrates how a collection can be reboxed for travel and to accommodate necessary re-housing and re-labeling that will take place by end-processing staff when work is completed
WATER-BASED ADHESIVES
Use squirt bottle of water and paper towel to clean sticky fingers while working.
Clean bone or teflon folder, bowls, brushes with warm soapy water, and dry with paper towels.
Bowls and brushes are rinsed periodically with alcohol.
Do not set a water jar directly on a table.
Store the squirt jar of water vertically inside the plastic bin when not in use.
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Certain kinds of materials should remain on-site. In the Conservation Overlap section is a list of Harvard Depository (HD) FORMAT RESTRICTIONS
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MAGNETIC TAPES : audio reels and audio and video (VHS) cassette tapes
Audiotapes, etc. are subject to condensation when moved to store offsite. Weissman has guidelines for audiovisual materials of all kinds. They recommend always making a preservation copy before sending off to HD. But currently we keep Until recently, we have kept this material onsite . This is because all magnetic tapes are in a constant state of "decomposition". Protocols will be established, but for now deal with the tapes on a case by case basis. are now being established by experts at Weissman Preservation Center regarding sending material offsite, and the orientation of tapes in storage. (When a single audiocassettte reel occurs among a collection, it can sometimes be housed in a simple 3-flap sleeve adhered to a stiff board and stored upright among papers, using standard acid-free materials.) They too should be housed so they don't move around in the box. Various kinds of magnetic tapes include DAT (Digital audiotape); micro cassette--from hand-held recording devices; reel-to-reel tape; standard audiocassettesaudio and video cassettes.
Consult current preservation specialists at Weissman, Elizabeth Walters or Melanie Meents, as needed. They recommend that magnetic tapes should be stored on either the short end or the long end of their spines (upright), but never flat, unless they are wound on "cores". If on cores they should be stored flat. Melanie and Elizabeth also recommend (zoom June 14, 2024) keeping the tapes in their original enclosure whenever possible, even if the enclosure is paper. If a tape does not have an external case or enclosure, use plastic VHS containers.
MAGNETIC TAPES : audiocassettes
in general, especially if there are many, can be housed upright in a box so the exposed tape edge faces upward. Replace jewel-box type plastic covers with archival ones only if chipped, or if more protection is needed. Loose chips or fragments can fall into the tape and damage it.
See HOUSING SOLUTIONS : Vidal audiocassette presentation. We no longer send magnetic tapes to HD. They are stored onsite. For an end processing example, see MS Am 3362 (Gore Vidal audiotapes).
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PHONOGRAPH RECORDS
Phonograph records are stored upright and not sent to HD because of their fragility. They should be packed firmly with interleaving sheets of coroplast or archival board so that they stay upright and won't warp. There are boxes made especially for phonograph records. Each record should have an acid-free protective sleeve if there is no other sleeve protecting it. The catalogers will determine whether the original sleeves will be kept, and the Preservation Librarian can assist in determining whether the original sleeves can be housed next to the records. Consult Preservation Librarian about other specific storage methods for metal, vinyl, or wax records, and about new ways to house phonograph records in future.
Bound albums containing phonograph records sometimes fit better in an extra-tall document box rather than a phonograph album box. If one record is too large to fit even in the taller box, see the housing solution slide presentation for an oversize phonograph record album. This presentation was made before we stopped sending record albums to HD. We could come up with a better housing solution now, using a taller record album box.
There are now custom oversize prefabs for larger individual records. And, we keep several sizes and styles of box on hand. These boxes are also generally useful for other media, such as reel-to-reel tapes.
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HOU prefab 1/4" spine (record album with cover) (13.125 x 13.5) [13.5d, 13.13h, 0.25w inches] extent measured by width
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HOU prefab 1/4" spine (single record album) (12.75 x 13.25) [13.25d, 12.75h, 0.25w inches] extent measured by width
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HOU Record Album box (45 rpm) [7.75d, 7.5h, 9w inches] extent measured by width
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HOU Record Album box (extra large) [17.38d, 17h, 6.38w inches] extent measured by width
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HOU Record Album box (half) [13.5d, 13.5h, 3.25w inches] extent measured by width
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HOU Record Album box (large) [13.38d, 13.16h, 7.5w inches] extent measured by width
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HOU Record Album box (small) [10.75d, 10.75h, 6w inches] extent measured by width
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DIGITAL
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DIGITAL DISKS : CDs, LDs (Laser disk) and DVDs
CDs and DVDs should be removed from housing that is not polypropylene and stored upright in a polypropylene case. If they occur in a flat manuscript box, they can be removed and shelved upright in a labeled CD case. If it is necessary to keep the old housing, they can be stored upright together on the shelf and labelled 1 of 2, 2 of 2. Large numbers of cds/dvds can be put in boxes in order to keep them with a collection, if necessary, as long as they are in polypropylene cases and stored upright. Consult Preservation Librarian about LDs.
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They also say that storing at HD is a good idea. And, that it’s also good to provide an extra layer of protection by packing individually housed media into Paige boxes. Open spaces can be filled with a crushed paper, or other archival cushion to ensure that the media remain vertically oriented in storage. Small-format cassettes (anything the size of an audiocassette or smaller), can be placed in a few smaller boxes before loading them into a Paige box if possible Consult the end processor about current supplies such as lantern slide boxes. Open-reel tape should ideally have a loose tape end anchored to the reel flange to help keep the tape pack from loosening during transport/in storage. If there is time for us to do this, ask the end processor about getting hold-down tape (from Splicit)---the ¼” version can be used for just about any width of tape.
MAGNETIC TAPES : audiocassettes
in general, especially if there are many, can be housed upright in a box so the exposed tape edge faces upward. Replace jewel-box type plastic covers with archival ones only if chipped, or if more protection is needed. Loose chips or fragments can fall into the tape and damage it.
See HOUSING SOLUTIONS : Vidal audiocassette presentation. We no longer send magnetic tapes to HD. They are stored onsite. For an end processing example, see MS Am 3362 (Gore Vidal audiotapes).
MAGNETIC TAPES : videocassettes
Betacam or Video Home System (VHS); consult the Preservation Librarian. These should be stored upright and labelled along the edge for easy viewing. Videocassettes, in general, can be stored upright with the exposed tape edge facing up. Note whether there is a tab on that edge that needs to be removed to prevent taping over, and ask Preservation Librarian how to remove it. See also 69207266 - Consult Preservation about SOUND-ON film (i.e. "Super 8" movie film), as it is sometimes magnetic and should NOT go to HD .
MAGNETIC TAPES: reel-to-reel
Weissman Preservation Center recommends:
reels of magnetic tape should indeed be stored vertically in an individual enclosure. The only exception to this rule is that tape wound on cores should always be stored flat (horizontally), as there is no reel to support the tape pack. Also, the loose end of the tape really should be anchored to the edge of one reel flange. The best tape for this is hold-down tape, but in a pinch you could use a small piece of painter’s tape or other paper tape (making sure that the adhesive side does not come in contact with the side of the tape pack---just the very end of that outer loose end of tape that you are anchoring. I like this hold-down tape from Splicit in the ¼” size.
Regarding individual enclosures for tape reels, they like this one for ¼” open-reel tape: https://stilcasing.com/products/audio-tape-box/ in part because it latches securely closed.
If you are using a convention clamshell cardboard box, try to make sure that the opening is not facing down---it’s easier for the box to fall open when removing it from the shelf or a Paige box, etc. If you are using a loose-lid box (even less ideal), consider tying the box closed with cloth book tape. If you do this, make sure that the knot is on the top or side spine of the box so that it doesn’t put pressure on the flat side of the box (and the reel inside) if multiple boxes are packed or shelved side by side.
Magnetic tape on reels can definitely be sent to HD. However, if you are planning on long-term storage there, it’s especially important that each reel be housed in its own enclosure, and also that you anchor those loose tape ends to make sure that the tape pack doesn’t loosen and sag over time. Also, I’d recommend that you pack the reels into a Paige box, etc., making sure to use crunched-up paper or other spacers to ensure that the individual reel boxes remain vertical in storage.
PHONOGRAPH RECORDS
Phonograph records are stored upright and not sent to HD because of their fragility. They should be packed firmly with interleaving sheets of coroplast or archival board so that they stay upright and won't warp. There are boxes made especially for phonograph records. Each record should have an acid-free protective sleeve if there is no other sleeve protecting it. The catalogers will determine whether the original sleeves will be kept, and the Preservation Librarian can assist in determining whether the original sleeves can be housed next to the records. Consult Preservation Librarian about other specific storage methods for metal, vinyl, or wax records, and about new ways to house phonograph records in future.
Bound albums containing phonograph records sometimes fit better in an extra-tall document box rather than a phonograph album box. If one record is too large to fit even in the taller box, see the housing solution slide presentation for an oversize phonograph record album. This presentation was made before we stopped sending record albums to HD. We could come up with a better housing solution now, using a taller record album box.
There are now custom oversize prefabs for larger individual records. And, we keep several sizes and styles of box on hand. These boxes are also generally useful for other media, such as reel-to-reel tapes.
| Container Profiles for Record Albums | ||
HOU prefab 1/4" spine (record album with cover) (13.125 x 13.5) [13.5d, 13.13h, 0.25w inches] extent measured by width |
HOU prefab 1/4" spine (single record album) (12.75 x 13.25) [13.25d, 12.75h, 0.25w inches] extent measured by width | ||
HOU Record Album box (45 rpm) [7.75d, 7.5h, 9w inches] extent measured by width | ||
HOU Record Album box (extra large) [17.38d, 17h, 6.38w inches] extent measured by width | ||
HOU Record Album box (half) [13.5d, 13.5h, 3.25w inches] extent measured by width | ||
HOU Record Album box (large) [13.38d, 13.16h, 7.5w inches] extent measured by width | ||
HOU Record Album box (small) [10.75d, 10.75h, 6w inches] extent measured by width |
To choose the desired box, type: HOU record
VIDEOCASSETTES: see Magnetic tapes
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PHOTOGRAPHS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPES OF MANUSCRIPTS
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Many early photographic techniques require special handling. Consult Conservation, who may suggest alerting the Photo Conservator at Weissman Preservation Center for assistance and advice. These are marked below, that will always need assistance, but also ask Conservation if there is any uncertainty about any particular photograph or technique.
PHOTOGRAPHS *Consult Houghton Conservation with any questions. Weissman Center photo conservator can assist or advise.
Photographs are especially sensitive to fingerprints. To avoid the reader having to touch the surface, photographs are housed in archival photosleeves made of polypropylene which are approved by Houghton's Preservation Department (see also: How to use Photosleeves.). Photographs that don't fit in these sleeves are stored sometimes in phototex paper, white archival folder stock, mylar folders (rarely), or alone in a single folder. Photographs that are too big for a sleeve, but that have white borders can sometimes be left as they are since fingerprints would only touch the border, and not the image itself. When handling photographic material directly, it is best, when possible, to wear the right size of nitrile glove, which will prevent fingerprints.
It is usually more efficient to have manuscript end-processing staff handle photographs, because photos rarely match the sizes of the enclosures, and lots of decisions have to be made such as whether the material that surrounds the polypropylene photosleeve is too fragile or thin and might either stick to it (by static) or be damaged by it. In such cases we might want to start a new box or folder at that point to avoid having to interleave or to allow a fragile item to be the first item on the pile in the next, rather than at the bottom of the first box. Also, if a box or folder becomes too full, we might decide to start a new one, which might affect whether they are stored in photosleeves or phototex paper, etc. The cataloger will not be able to foresee all these things, and neither will the end-processors until the time of actual end-processing. Having the manuscript end-processing staff handle photographs avoids having to re-do work and waste supplies.
Sometimes the photographs are interspersed within a thick folder of papers. As with most things we do, there are often several different potential solutions to a problem, and it is impossible to foresee exactly which one will work, or whether a new one will occur to us.
Sometimes a decision is made to interleave with phototex paper instead of using photosleeves, based on the types of surrounding materials; or whether the photographs are a more-or-less uniform size and might fit better into a small 4-flap enclosure. The photo Conservator at Weissman has approved the use of our archival white 2-flap folders with photographs when standard supplies don't work. Interleaving isn't required between the photo surface and the folder. [This would be in the case where a photo is too large to fit into a photo-sleeve]. The phototex paper is very thin and better suited for flat storage of photographs.
According the the WPC photo conservator, if there are lots of same-sized photographs stored together, it is ok not to interleave them, as long as they are in an enclosure that is close to the same size so that they don't slide around a lot. And, as long as there are no other preservation issues that might transfer from one photo to another. Often a photograph on thick backing will need to have the individual sleeves cut down and folded under the edge so that they don't fall out. If the backing has a border of an inch or more, and supplies are low, and it is the only thing in the folder, it is ok to leave it without a sleeve or any sort of inner folder. The border will protect it from fingerprints. Because there are many such complicated considerations, it is best not to make decisions about housing photographs before the time of end-processing.
Standard-sized photographs in any manuscript collection here thus far are the exception. So, there are about 5 or 6 different standard-sized polypropylene photosleeves that we purchase, then cut the edges and fold them under the photographs to keep them from falling out. Only a photograph that fits exactly in the sleeve is in not too much danger of falling out. All others which are slightly smaller even, will start to slip out with the movement of the box off the shelf, etc. Also, there has to be at least 3/4 " flap to fold under or the flap will not hold either. So usually the Manuscript Assistant puts the photos into the sleeves, and the temp. or student does the clipping and folding.
We try to use sleeves with the most number of pockets per sheet as possible. Storing four photographs in one flat sheet uses space more efficiently than storing four photographs in two sheets; especially if there are hundreds of photographs in a collection. Anyone using photosleeves should first view How to use Photosleeves. See also : Preliminary Processing - Photo album (Nabakov)
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PHOTOGRAPHS : upright storage
We put photographs into photosleeves only if the processing level is 2 or above, or if there is some special concern. They can be stored upright if in good condition, or flat according to the needs of the rest of the collection. If they are moderately curled, putting them in many folders in a flat box may help keep them from curling more. If badly curled and in need of flattening, consult Preservation staff. If badly curled, single or in a block, storing flat with no weight is best. If a photograph is a bit taller than the front of portion of an upright folder and doesn't fit in a photosleeve, we make an inner folder out of mylar, just slightly smaller than the outer folder. The inner folder can be the same height as the folder it is in. We try to make such folders uniform in size within a box, rather than have a lot of custom-sized inner folders of all different heights, even if it means that the photograph will sometimes be shorter than the inner folder.
PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPES OF MANUSCRIPTS
AMBROTYPES *see: daguerreotypes
DAGUERREOTYPES *Consult Houghton Conservation (Weissman Center wants to examine all new material or problems)
Daguerreotypes can be stored upright only if: (a) the original box is in good condition, i.e. hinges in good working order, cover not loose and (b) it is in an enclosure that has been custom padded-out for protection. Otherwise, they can be stored flat, also in a padded-out box, and it does not matter whether they are stored with the image facing up or down, even though salts or degradation products from the glass from falling on top of the image can cause damage if they are facing up. In most cases, however, it is preferable to have the image face up, so the reader can see it without having to open it and then close, flip over, and open again.
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GLASS LANTERN SLIDES
Consult Houghton Conservation (Weissman Center will want to provide specialized housing)
These are put into archival 4-flap folders, from preservation vendor. They come in various sizes. They should be stored upright. The Preservation Officer is looking into purchasing the right type of boxes, so should be consulted before proceeding.
MICROFILM
Old metal canisters, or paper reels can go into microfilm boxes/cartons. If going to HD, use tissue or some other method so that they won't roll around in the box. Microfilm CAN be sent to HD if it does not have a vinegar smell. See also "MOVIE FILM".
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Movie film reels should be stored upright (according to the Preservation Librarian, though the Harvard Film Archive stores them flat). There is s new conservator/department that can be consulted about film, which they describe as "time-based media". If film is in good condition, stable, not warped, doesn't smell, is polyester-based, it can be sent to Harvard Depository, but if it is old or unstable-seeming in any way, ask Preservation for advice, as protocol can change. HD no longer keeps reels of film in "cold storage". Films are either acetate, nitrocellulose, or polyester, it is usually best to consult the Preservation Librarian in general about film reels. Consult Preservation about SOUND-ON film (i.e. "Super 8" movie film), as it is sometimes magnetic and should NOT go to HD
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NEGATIVES
In the past it was thought that since negatives are different than photographs chemically, they should be stored in a different sleeve made of polyethylene rather than polypropylene. However, the new photo conservator tells us that if we simply use Phototex paper (available from Archivart) rather than polyethylene to interleave or folder negatives, we can avoid doing damage to those few types of negatives that don't store well in polyethylene. Thus, we can avoid having to test each batch of negatives to see whether they are the ones that are the exception to the rule. We keep a pf size ream of this paper in stock.
SLIDES see HOUSING SOLUTIONS
TINTYPES *Consult Houghton Conservation if problems or questions, and to keep up with new procedures
Tintypes can be stored upright in a prefab, in an inner folder, with a phototex barrier. If too many to fit in a prefab, store in a card file box in individual folders upright on the long side. Pad out the box so they stay upright. However they must have enough slight pressure to make sure they don't wobble in transit. Whatever the stiff outer enclosure, it should be padded out, or double pre-fabbed, to keep it from getting bent or crushed. Tintypes can go to HD. 4-flap folders for glass slides, with an inner backing of acid-free matboard cut to size of the folder usually work well as inner folders.
X-RAYS
X-rays are treated like negatives. It is best to store negatives in paper that does not have a watermark. Thus far, the only paper we have is phototex. If we need to use stiffer paper on a rare occasion, we use white acid-free folder stock. Since phototex is such a thin tissue, we often make a 3-flap folder which is the same length as the longest dimension of the enclosure.
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Note: a long-standing rule in libraries is to not store bound (printed or otherwise) volumes on their front board edges. We are obligated to make sure all staff and patrons are aware of that. Use SPINE MUST FACE DOWN labels whenever bound volumes are stored upright in this manner (normally inside a box).
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Sometimes a printed book is heavily annotated or with many inserts, and cataloged as a manuscript. Likewise, diaries, scrapbooks, etc. with any sort of inserts always need to be in an enclosure so the inserts don't fall out. Try to estimate the thickness of paper that would be added to the volume if you were to interleave every page. This might be so much paper that it would compromise the structure of the binding. But if it is just a few pages and doesn’t seem like it would harm the binding, you could interleave. If the binding is already somewhat compromised, you may choose not to interleave. Removing inserts to be stored in a prefab along with a volume in a single box is an option. Consult with supervisor or curator first. Inserts can include clippings, paper notes, plant specimens, hair, etc. See also: BOUND PRINTED MATERIAL with inserts, The solutions are the same.
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CLIPPINGS
For levels 2 and 3 processing clippings might need to be unfolded and interleaved, especially if they are already turning brown and offsetting onto adjacent material. Use the slightly trimmed (shorter) larger sheets of permalife (8.5x14") that the end processor can provide. Or if an inner folder is required, use the next size larger permalife (11x17"), folded in half, to separate clippings from other material. Note that Permadur paper is an older equivalent to permalife, and is ok to use/use up. Both these papers have a watermark, however, which is suspected of possibly offsetting onto early manuscripts. So for those the end processor may use a paper with no watermark, selected by the Weissman Center.
Anchor Realia Realia
REALIA
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DEATH/LIFE MASKS : originals or casts of face and other parts of body
Whether plaster or metal, these are all to be stored in the VAULT together, usually in a "hat" box, padded with volara or acid-free tissue, and with tissue as a "base" for the hollow area. Consult Conservation for difficult pieces. Metal should be stored in unbuffered boxes if possible. If not possible, surrounded with tissue. See also: plaster.
FLAG
(Housing Solution for a flag).
HANDCUFFS, SWORDS and WEAPONRY
MATCHES See also MANUSCRIPT MEDIA, powder-based
MIRRORS
Can be housed in unbuffered tissue: the same kind used for textiles. WPC says that buffered tissue would have calcium in it that could be abrasive to mirror. The Harvard Theatre Collection has some mirrors with elaborate metal frames. If intricate or problematic, it would be best to consult Preservation for advice on what materials to use for housing.
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Matted items can go into folders along with the rest of a collection as long as they are roughly the same size as most of the other items within the box, and do not present any other apparent dangers to surrrounding material. If a large part of a collection is matted, or if the matted item is likely to be exhibited some day, we might go so far as to put a sheet of transparent paper interleaving behind the mat, and put an additional label with a water-based adhesive on the verso of the mat, or inside the mat below the hinged item, so there is no problem identifying it during the sometimes harried process of installing an exhibit, when folders can get separated from items.
If a mat is acid or in bad condition, the curator or cataloger may approve discarding it. This is most often the case, as mats present storage problems within a box. Old hinges can be carefully cut off above the edge of the sheet with a scalpel or sharp olfa cutter. The curator or cataloger may want text photocopied for the curatorial files before discarding old mats. This is a task the end processor normally carries out.
PHOTOGRAPHS: matted (see PHOTOGRAPHS)
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Many spiral notebooks will fit in the largest size of prefab. This will protect the materials that lay both underneath and on top of it from being dented by the metal or plastic. The largest pre-fabs are slightly shorter then the ms. boxes, but not too short to be used inside the box as if it were another ms. folder. However the width must be trimmed about 1/8 of an inch in order to be able to close the box. It might be best to use a metal ruler and olfa cutter to save wear on the paper cutter on the work table. Try to cut as close to the inner folder as you safely can. If you are using clam-shell boxes you won't have to trim the pre-fabs--but you will if you are using some of the older boxes, as most are slightly smaller inside.
The green paper cutter is not strong enough or large enough for cutting thick board like this. Always trim the pre-fab empty of contents, or you could end up cutting off the edge of a manuscript.
If stored upright, spine should be facing down, and be sure to accurately crease the bottom of the folder it is in. If this seems to present problems to rest of material, make a stiffer folder for it, or consider whether it could be stored with the spine up instead. If stored flat, you may have have it on top of the pile with a label "keep on top", unless it does not seem like it will damage other material or be damaged. One could pad out the area of the protruding spiral with board, but it is very time-consuming and materials are costly to do this routinely for large collections.
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METALS : artifacts
Such as handcuffs, swords, etc. (see: bMS Am 2373) have been housed in unbuffered 6-pack microfilm boxes from metal edge. A cushion or ring base can be formed out of the UT30500R Acid-free unbuffered tissue from Gaylord's. Buffered boxes can also be used as long as it is lined with acid-free unbuffered tissue. Consult Preservation if any unusual concerns about condition, etc. Metal objects are best stored in unbuffered boxes, but we don't keep a stock of these, so alternately, they can be wrapped in unbuffered materials to make corrosion less active, like tissue. Sometimes a ziplock bag might be acceptable, though bags in general are less desirable than folders/boxes that don't require pulling the item in and out. For objects, it is sometimes alright to do so. Here is an informative website to browse.
METALS : copper on wood blocks (see also HOUSING SOLUTIONS)
Copper plates, mounted on wood, used in book illustration, should be stored in boxes small enough that weight is not a problem. They should be on their sides, rather than laying flat, so that the surface is less likely to be damaged from pressure. They should have either full individual folders or 2 pt. board or mat board interleaving, rather than corrugated board, as corrugated might make an uneven impression on them. And they should be stored as firmly pushed together as possible so they don't move much, though not so tightly that they are exerting pressure on each other and on the box.
As far as buffered, non-buffered, Weissman Preservation Center (WPC) does not specify one or the other, just to use the usual materials we have on hand, i.e. the mat board and the 2 pt. board that is used for most everything else. Check with preservation staff if concerns about other metals. Copper plates mounted on wood should not go to HD because wood is on the HD restrictions list.
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Small oil paintings on canvas should be put flat in a pre-fab or inner pre-fab so that they won't be exposed to pressure or accidental bending that might cause the paint to flake off. Canvas stretched on a wooden frame must stay onsite, partially because wood contracts and expands, which would also affect the paint. Wood and oil paint are some of the materials we do not send to the Harvard Depository. They should be boxed and stored flat onsite. Water-based paints (acrylics, watercolor, poster-paints, etc.) should be separated from other materials by interleaving at the very least. There is no need to use special folders or prefabs unless the paint has a thickness to it that looks as if it might be damaged by pressure or bending. For oil paintings on stretched canvas that are framed, consult preservation staff about whether to store flat or upright/hung.
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Crumpled unbuffered acid-free tissue, rolled into snakes, can be put inside clothing next to folds, since that is where damage usually first occurs. Leave items as unfolded as possible. You will need larger boxes than usual for costumes, etc. The box doesn't have to be unbuffered, as long as there is unbuffered tissue between the item and the box. Use the large roll of tissue we keep in the manuscript end-processing work room. Procedures may change if the Library were to hire a textile conservator.