Missing Lincoln Documents returned to National Archives

[usnationalarchives]

Paper conservators are often asked if one should wear gloves when handling books and documents. Wearing gloves reduces the dexterity and tactile "feel" required to safely handle fragile records or turn pages in a bound volume and can actually increase the risk of damaging a record

[usnationalarchives]

Conservators have a better sense of what we are touching and are better able to avoid catching vulnerable projecting edges when we work with bare hands. Paper conservators wash their hands thoroughly and frequently throughout the day to keep them free of dirt and oils as an effective alternative to wearing gloves.

[usnationalarchives]

The main exceptions to using clean bare hands to handle archival records is in handling bare photographs, bare audio and video tape, and metal artifacts. Photographic emulsions, magnetic tape, and metal are so vulnerable to damage that we only handle them with gloves. Most other types of artifacts, including textiles, baskets, frames, and jewelry, are also handled with gloves.

[smadaf]

No gloves?! COME ON!  *HEADDESK*

[popimfresh]

@mbz1971 seriously, at the very least wear a pair of gloves and have a clean covered surface to handle the material on.

[GrizzlyGroundswell]

Great American Story of a great capitalist doing the right thing! Bravo for bringing us this great story!