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For those interested in preserving their documentation, here are a few tips from an archivist/museum specialist (dang - the secret is out!).
If you simply plan on filing your documents, purchase acid-free folders and interleave the documents with acid-free paper within the folders and store in a dark, humidity- & temperature-controlled environment (most likely not your basement or attic!). Most high-grade copy paper is acid-free anymore these days but it doesn't hurt to pay a bit more for a package which specifically states that it is indeed acid-free. Make sure there are no paper clips, staples, rubber bands, sticky notes etc. filed with your documents as these can degrade and make a mess.
If you'd like to display your documents, please pay the money and have them professionally mounted or do it yourself with a museum-quality frame using acid-free materials and UV-inhibiting glass. Avoid using any type of metal, tape, or glue which is not specifically designed for archival use. Make sure to put neutral-material spacers in between the glass and your documents along the inside of the frame or use acid-free matting to provide a small space between the glass and the documents. The inks used in especially the window stick can have adhesive qualities if the humidity is high and can stick to the glass if placed directly next to it. Do try to avoid direct sunlight and try to keep your framed documents in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment. There's nothing documents hate more (besides floods and fire) than a constantly fluctuating environment.
And for those considering lamination - don't do it. Instead, do something called "encapsulation." Buy UV-inhibiting Mylar, cut two sheets of it about 1/4-1/2in larger on all sides than the document you wish to protect, place the document between the sheets, and tape with high quality clear tape along the edges, making sure to leave a bit of space untaped so air and moisture can escape. If you wish to place similarly sized documents back-to-back when encapsulating place a sheet of acid-free paper between the two documents, especially if they are composed of two different types of paper.
Sorry for the long post but I just want to make sure my Camaro5 friends have the best possible advice concerning the preservation of their documents. Feel free to PM me if you have questions.
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