How to preserve documents.

[Mannheim]

Some years ago I was gifted a pile of documents from a woman who had worked in Germany during the war. She was Estonian and she gave me virtually her entire personal documentation from the period including a document from a British administrator identifying her as Estonian and declaring that she was not to be repatriated to the Soviet Union. Interesting stuff! However, I noticed today that her Arbeitsbuch was starting to deteriorate down the spine (see photo). What is the best way to preserve documents so they don't fall apart?

[hucks216]

Basically put them in acid free sleeves and don't handle them, or handle them as little as possible. What I do with the Soldbücher & Wehrpässe I collect is to scan the pages and keep the images in a file on my PC and then the actual item goes in to a storage folder. If I need to look at something at some point down the line then I can look at the scans instead of the actual item.
This is a UK based collection storage company which might not be any good for you considering where you live (they might export but I don't know to be honest) but I'm sure you can find something similar where you are.

www.arrowfile.com

Storage (2).JPG

[Mannheim]

Thanks, hucks216, looks good. I'll get in contact with the company.