Time Capsule 2000  •  www.timecapsule2k.com


2885 Whipporwill Drive, Morgan Hill, CA 95037, USA
Phone/Fax: 408.779.2345 :  

Preservation Hints and Tips
(Courtesy of Conservation Resources (U.K.) Ltd.) 

Do retain a detailed record listing the items you will be placing in the Time Capsule and the construction of each item, including the Time Capsule itself. List the reason for the Time Capsule, the contributors, and who will be present at the sealing of the capsule. Most importantly, describe the color and composition of each article, as this will help future researchers to identify items in the Time Capsule and may help with further conservation. Retain one copy of this information and include one copy inside the Time Capsule. 

Do use cotton gloves when handling items prior to insertion and try to maintain a clean, pollution-free environment for your material. Oil from your fingers can soil items and may cause corrosion on contact with airborne pollutants.

Don’t include unstable items which may release gas or deteriorate. Rubber and wool release sulfur gas; wood must be sealed away from metal objects or electronic equipment; polyethylene can permeate moisture as it ages so must be encapsulated in a waterproof container; PVC will break down and release acids into the capsule; diazzo film releases ammonia which will cause deterioration of the materials; foodstuffs decompose and will cause cross-contamination.

Do place any suspect items in sealed, non-permeable, airtight bags with oxygen scavengers to absorb oxygen.

Do use archival inks, archival stable water colors and archival quality papers.

Don’t use unstable mediums to create written, drawn or painted items.

Do deacidify newsprint and other papers.

Do include photocopies produced using stable quality processes, preferably black toned print (not color) produced on archival quality photocopy paper. 

Don’t include thermally produced facsimile or scanner/plotter papers.

Do include fiber based black and white or cibachrome photographic prints rather than color print or film material. Include a desiccant bag.

Do remember to include information about how various items were created, including software packages and format of equipment. Include instruction for playback of any recording equipment.

Do use papers with a pH of 6.0 to 8.5, alkaline buffered, lignin and sulfur free, and use only archival quality adhesives.

Do use inert polyester or inert archival polypropylene to create protective wrappers or enclosures.

Don’t use PVC or PVAC as these films will deteriorate releasing acetic and hydrochloric acid.

Do record the location of your Time Capsule and tell others of its location.