How to Keep Family Heritage Documents Readable for Centuries
Short Answer
Paper degrades in thirty to fifty years in Malaysia's humid climate. A high-resolution scan with backups in three separate places is the only way to make sure marriage certificates, land titles and old photographs stay readable for the generations to come.
Malaysia's humid climate is paper's worst enemy. Your grandfather's marriage certificate, kept in a wooden cabinet, may not last until your grandchildren are grown.
Scan at a high resolution
Scan at a minimum of 600 DPI for documents and 1200 DPI for old photographs. Keep TIFF or PNG for the archive, and JPEG for everyday viewing.
Keep copies in three places
The 3-2-1 rule: three copies, two different media, one off site. A digital system that keeps your data on a server with automatic backups covers most of this on your behalf.
Store the originals properly
- Acid-free folders and sleeves, not ordinary plastic
- Away from direct sunlight
- Steady temperature, humidity below 60%
- Do not fold, and do not use metal clips
Record the context, not just the file
A file named IMG_0342.jpg means nothing thirty years from now. Record who is in the picture, when it was taken and where — in the system, not in your head.
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