Tip #17: Do wear gloves when handling photographs.

Written By Dmitri Schmidt

One of the most pervasive myths about archivists is that we all wear those darn white cotton gloves all day every day. If you’ve been following us for a while, you might remember that we’ve already debunked this myth. (Check out Tip #3 on why you do NOT want to wear them when handling things such as paper documents and most books.) But today we’re going to be talking about one of the rare times you do want to wear gloves: when handling photographs.

So why is paper safe to handle without gloves, but photographs aren't? For one, gloves hinder your dexterity. Since paper is more likely to tear than a photograph, this lack of dexterity becomes an imminent threat. Secondly, due to the emulsion layer on photographs (aka the shiny part on newer photographs), body oil can leave marks that may not appear on paper.

If you have to handle photographs without gloves (which is not recommended), be sure to wash your hands first and only pick up the photograph by the edges. Never touch the emulsion. You can also lift up the photograph by sliding a piece of paper beneath a corner and using the paper as a sort of tray.

Want to learn more about preserving photographs? Check out our webinar on YouTube!

Dmitri Schmidt

Dmitri plays a pivotal role in coordinating Backlog’s outreach efforts. They curate our weekly #FridayFinds and #ArchivalTips social media posts, shedding light on items discovered in our genealogy work and providing tips and tricks to approaching problems in the archives.

Dmitri holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and German Studies from Saint Louis University. During their university years, they dedicated over 1000 hours to interning and volunteering at local St. Louis institutions, including the St. Louis Science Center and the St. Louis University Museum of Art. As the Collections Intern at the Science Center, Dmitri assisted in developing and installing the "Into the Vault" exhibit.

Before joining Backlog, Dmitri served as a Fulbright Grantee, teaching English as a second language in former East Germany. From guiding 11th graders in analyzing pop albums as poetry to discussing the significance of the civil rights movement with 8th graders, they covered a broad spectrum of subjects. While reveling in connecting with students and injecting fun into grammar lessons, Dmitri's deep passion for all things archival eventually drew them back home.

Today, Dmitri works as a Herbarium Assistant at the Missouri Botanical Garden, helping digitize the millions of preserved plant specimens. After being scanned and transcribed, these images aid scholars around the globe in furthering botanical research. Dmitri also serves as the archivist for the Kirkwood Historical Society. They are currently overseeing the “Journeys into Kirkwood’s History” project, which aims to digitize documents related to Kirkwood’s early Black settlements.

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