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Smithsonian experts show impacted residents how to preserve documents, memories

355 views · Published 11 October 2017 · 2:03 · Indexed 28 October 2026

Channel: KRIS 6 News · 2017 · News & Politics

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The Smithsonian Institute holds a lot of memories.  It's home to world renowned artwork and artifacts.  Now, they've partnered with FEMA to help Coastal Bend residents preserve some of their storm-damaged treasures.


"Many of the items I've cataloged came from people's personal collections," said Carrie Feldman, Smithsonian Institute Preservation Specialist.  "Their photographs of their grandparents and their great grandparents."

Family photos, important documents, books and family heirlooms are a few of the items that the preservation specialists say can be salvaged.  Many of the techniques use every day household products that can be bought at the grocery store.

For example, here's a quick fix for photos that have mold or are stuck together.  Soak them in distilled water for 30 minutes, then separate them and lay them on a flat surface to dry.

"I think the instinct is, when there's water damage, to throw things away.  It's instinctive and you do it, but then you have regrets about it," Feldman said.

Dustin Reinfeld, is an avid book collector.  He learned how to salvage books using water, paint brushes and paper towels.

"It's an amazing thing," said Dustin Reinfeld.  "It they weren't here, there would be a lot of history and memories that would be lost.  Memories you can't get back."

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