Tip #25: Not all records are made equal.

Written By Dmitri Schmidt

If you’ve ever played a record or even just perused a record shop, you’re probably thinking duh. You have your 12-inch LPs, your 10-inch LPs, and of course your 45s aka the 7-inch singles. But size isn’t the only difference among records, they can also vary in material depending on when they were created. The first records made in the late 1880s were made out of shellac, a kind of resin. It wasn’t until the late 1940s that we got the vinyl records we’re familiar with today.

Because of this difference in materials, shellac and vinyl discs have different weaknesses. Shellac is much heavier and should be stored on fixed metal shelving units strong enough to bear their weight. Vinyl on the other hand, while lighter and more durable, is extremely susceptible to heat. To prevent warping, these records should be stored somewhere with a regulated climate and limited exposure to light. Both types of records should be stored separately from their sleeves (just like wax cylinders!) in boxes that support an upright position.

For more on preserving audiovisual materials, stay tuned for our next archival tip! Can’t wait? Check out our AV preservation webinar on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtxDC7SPgW4

#ArchivalTips #BacklogArchivists #Conservation #Preservation

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.

Next

Tip #24: Learn to identify your materials.