Photo strip albums and scrapbooks

Choose a page that fits the whole strip

Measure the full paper and test it against the album pocket or page. Keep enough space for a date and a short note. A tall strip may fit comfortably on a larger page even when a standard photograph pocket is too short. Do not fold the strip to fit an unsuitable sleeve.

Make mounting reversible

Choose materials intended for photographic storage. Library of Congress guidance discusses photograph care and cautions against damaging handling and storage. For a treasured original, use suitable pockets or photograph-safe corners rather than glue, pressure-sensitive tape or a sticky decorative page.

Evidence: Preservation guidance

Write the story beside the picture

Add names, a location and the date if you know them. Mark an approximate date as approximate. A sentence such as “the evening before the move” may later be more meaningful than a perfectly designed caption. Put the note on the album page, rather than writing across the photograph.

If several people contributed strips, ask how they want their names recorded and whether the album is private. Keep blank spaces for information you genuinely do not know.

Keep a digital companion

Photograph or scan the strips clearly, preserving the edges and frame order. Give the files names linked to the album page and store a separate backup. A scan is a useful access copy, not a replacement for every quality of the original print.

For a guest book, provide an easy place to attach one copy and let guests keep another when your print workflow allows it. Store the completed book somewhere dry and away from strong light. Review it occasionally for loose strips, rather than sealing the collection away and assuming everything stayed attached.