Original Civil War Discharge Papaers Preserving

[TPK]

Hello Everyone,

I recently was given my great-great grandfathers original discharge papers from the Civil War. It was my mothers great grand father and he served with the Union Army in West Virginia. You can still read what is on the document and the signatures of the Captain who signed the papers. I am looking for a way that I can have the documents preserved and protected. They are in really great shape for being signed on July 1, 1864. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Tom

[Sammy]

I don't know much about this, but I might make a couple of suggestions.

You should consult someone who has some experience in preserving the papers you have. It's possible that some sort of chemical treatment is available.

I have a scrapbook that my mother put together when she was a young woman in the 1920s, and when she gave it to me, the pages were brittle and crumbling. I took the book apart, and had the pages laminated. It seems to have worked.

Another suggestion would be to put the papers in a picture frame with a tightly fitting back, and seal the back as snugly as you can. The trick is to keep air from getting to the documents. But I would still suggest consulting with an expert before you do anything. What you have can't be replaced, so it's important to do it right.

Sammy