State Archives of Tamil Nadu – 2

Preservation and Reprography: In 1920, a separate section for mending the records was started with six members were deputed to undergo training in mending at the Imperial Record Office, Calcutta in 1921, who in turn imparted in service training to other menders.   Now the preservation division consists of 39 skilled preservation clerks and 9 skilled […]

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State Archives of Tamil Nadu – 1

INTRODUCTION  In India, Tamil Nadu occupies a unique place in Archives administration.  By 1801, the whole of the area which later became the Madras Presidency had come into the hands of the East India Company, and the second half of the 18th Century itself witnessed a manifold increase in Government Records. The spurt in the […]

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Records- Paper, Palm Leaves, Birch Bark, Papyrus, Parchment and Vellum, Textiles and Filing System of Records

Papers           Paper has various properties that contribute to its performance, the most notable of which are pH level, strength, opacity and whiteness. Acidity and alkalinity are measured on a scale known as the pH scale. Papers with a high level of acidity tend to deteriorate quickly. This is because the acids in the paper […]

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Importance of Archives

 Introduction An archive is an accumulation of historical records or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization’s lifetime, and are kept to show the function of that person or organization. Professional archivists and historians generally understand archives to be records […]

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Chemical Deterioration

Introduction Deterioration refers to a change of state of any materials from the original form caused by interplay between the object and the agents of destruction.   The different types of deterioration of the paper-based materials are reflected in wear and tear, shrinkage, cracks brittleness, warping, bio-infestation, discoloration, abrasion, hole, dust and dirt accumulation etc.  Chemical […]

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The British Records Association

The British Records Association (BRA) is a charity which aims to promote the preservation, understanding, accessibility and study of our recorded heritage for the public benefit. It is open to anyone interested in records and archives whether local historians, academics, professional archivists, or custodians and owners of collections, or simply those who are curious about the record […]

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Physical Deterioration of Records -5

Poor Handling and Storage: Records are easily damaged through handling and improper storage. Papers are often folded, bent, or rolled. Photographs and negatives sustain damage from oily fingers. Computer tapes, disks, audio cassettes and reels become damaged through over-handling, careless storage, or exposure to magnets or magnetic fields. Incorrect storage furniture and storage enclosures will […]

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Physical Deterioration of Records -4

Light Apart from other causes earlier discussed, light can, to a large extent, be regarded as an independent and prime cause of deterioration of museum objects. The type of materials forming part of the museum collection that are subject to damage by light are pigments and dyestuff, including inks; paper and other cellulose materials; and, […]

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Physical Deterioration of Records -3

Water Collections storage areas are frequently placed in attic or basement spaces which are most vulnerable to water damage in the event of a roof or plumbing leak, sprinkler system malfunction or flooding.  Leaks and floods can also irreparably damage records, causing inks and dyes to run and stain adjacent areas, pages to warp and […]

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Physical Deterioration of Records -2

Physical Deterioration of Records -2 The materials of which library and archive collections are composed, namely paper, parchment, palm leaves, birch bark, leather and adhesives used in bookbinding, are susceptible to two main forms of deterioration. One is biological deterioration caused by insect attack and/or fungal growth, and the other form of deterioration is caused by adverse physical […]

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