Restoring fold damage in heirloom paper documents

Recently I had a reader email me with a question about paper restoring.

Dear Michelle,
First of all, I wanted to say that I love your work and your website! ... I have a question for you. My husband has a the original copy of his grandmothers high school diploma from 1928. It is 20.5 inches by 16 inches (so, it's much bigger than a diploma from today). Over the years it has been folded and bent. Is there any way that I can get them all out and make it smooth again? I read somewhere to take a cool iron, a towel over the paper and then iron it. Will this hurt it? Do you have any suggestions? ... I would like to get it restored and framed for her.

Thanks so much,
Alexandria Goudy
Stampin' Up Demonstrator

While I do know a great deal about archives and paper restoration, I would not consider myself an "expert" by any means. I haven't gone through any Paper Restoration specialty classes. However, I do have archives and library training which comes in handy when scrapbooking vintage photos and documents for family history. Here is my response. I'm posting it here because folds in old documents are a common problem. I hope my response will help others:

Hi Alexandra.

Folds and bends in paper are nearly impossible to repair by yourself.

Folds in paper are unfortunately permanent. Ironing it is not going to help if the folds in the paper have broken the fibers of the paper. Look very close at it - are the fibers broken in any way? This usually happens when something is folded in half. Has it been folded in half? If however, the paper has light bends in it - just an un-even-ness to it - no actual folds, then ironing it might help. Low setting with cotton towel.

For paper that has broken fibers and that has been folded, you will need to take it to a professional paper restorer. A paper restorer has the tools and knowledge to repair broken paper fibers.

I've taken books to professional restorers and the cost is reasonable. I'm sure for a single piece of paper where no binding is involved the cost would be minimal and well worth it.

Check your local phone book for a document restoration company/individual. If there are none in your town, call the nearest university library nearest you and ask to speak with a reference librarian. Ask where the University has their books restored.

Michelle

I have used a local book preservation specialist in Kenosha, WI for my restoration projects and I have been pleased with the result as well as price. One of the items I had restored was a 100 year old book with binding in shabby condition. It is truly amazing how preservation specialists can make it look like new!