For many home archivists, photographs are the only visual record that we have of our loved ones. We cherish the strong connection to our family that photographs can provide. However, photographs are only as valuable as the information that we identify, describe, and pass along about them. Without this information, this important visual connection may be broken for future generations of your family.
One of the most important things you can do for your photographs is to go through the process of labeling (or captioning) your photographic prints. But what’s the safest way to do this?
The safest way to caption a photographic print is to write on the back of the print with a soft lead pencil. Generally speaking, pencils are much less harmful to photographs than are ink pens.
Best practices:
- Use pencil, not ink. Archival pens may be used. See below about resin coated paper.
- Write legibly. If your handwriting is sloppy, enlist another family member and dictate
- Write captions near the edges of photographic prints.
- Write on a flat surface to avoid embossing.
What should I write?:
- Identify people, location, and approximate dates.
- Be sure to use question marks or brackets on any information that you are not sure about.
- Annotate with your name or initials and the date the caption was created.
