Historic Flag Care Question from John S. of Seattle

Q. I was just recently bequeathed with a rather large, WWII era flag and want to do my absolute best to preserve it for posterity.
However, I'm not certain which paper is best for said flag. What would you recommend?
I'm incontrovertibly ready to purchase your best!

In terms of storage beyond the paper, I was thinking of putting the flag, folded nicely throughout with the a.f. tissue paper, in a new large plastic bin - to keep out moisture, etc., but then I read online that over time certain gases can leak from the bin as the plastic decays and this could yellow the textile material. I also read that a sealed plastic bin promotes mold! Yikes!
I want to treat this flag with the utmost care and need your help!

What do you think the best method of storage? It's very, very big! I believe 8 by 10 feet!

Thoughts? 


A. When dealing with textiles of indeterminate content and dyes, it is always best to use nonbuffered acid and lignin free tissue.  It is, in fact, all that we carry now.

It's safe for contact with any and all materials.

Wrapping the flag in tissue with interleaving is absolutely the best way to go.  The tissue will cushion the folds and is a buffer against both environmental acids and temperature and humidity swings.

Here is some information from the Wedding Gown section of the site regarding Rubbermaid, etc.:
"For best and most economic storage, purchase a Rubbermaid® or Sterilite® box (underbed or otherwise) large enough to hold the garment. These storage boxes are made of polypropylene - which is an inert material used for archival application. It is widely used by Museum Specialists. Other brands may be safe as well - look for the #5 within the recycling code triangle or the letters "PP".  In fact, archival polypropylene is in some ways superior to archival board. The polypropylene boxes are not entirely airtight, which is good, while offering an extra degree of protection against water damage or pest invasion."

Be very certain to store in a climate-controlled area of the home and away from light and exterior walls.

If you have very high humidity where you are - you might want to include a desiccant bag (the 50 mg. regenerable one) in the box.

Check on the flag a few times a year and refold along lines that are a bit different each time - to minimize creasing and seam stress.  Wash your hands prior ti handling to remove acidic skin oils and lotions or wear cotton gloves.

Your flag is a treasure and good for you for caring for it so well!