Dear Tex-Con Members,

I have been following your discussions and learning from them for several years now, since I was a graduate student in Lincoln, Nebraska. Now I am a curator in a small historical society, and have a question of my own regarding storage boxes.

You are all aware that acid-free boxes are very expensive. Though I am working on some grant possibilities, in the meantime I need some less costly methods of storage. I would like to know what you think of storing textiles in standard cardboard boxes that have been lined with a barrier such as a medium weight acid-free paper (heavier than tissue) or Tyvek. Or perhaps there is another liner option that would be even better? The object I am presently trying to find better storage for is a silk cigar ribbon pillow that does not fit in a standard size acid-free, unbuffered box: I would have to have one custom made. Even more expensive! 

I found this artifact wrapped in an old sheet and stuffed into a box that had been the packaging for an electric blanket and which was too small for it. How much of an improvement is a new cardboard box, with plenty of space and lined with Tyvek? Will it provide a safe storage environment for as long as the barrier has its integrity?

Thank you for your advice,

Peggy Derrick, Curator
La Crosse County Historical Society
La Crosse, Wisconsin