Removal of Damaging Fasteners from Historic Documents

Removal of Damaging Fasteners from Historic Documents
Source: Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC)

Fasteners such as staples, paper clips, string ties, rubber bands, brads, and straight pins frequently damage documents. The damage may be physical: puncturing, tearing or distortion such as creasing. Or chemical damage may result such as staining from the rusting of metal fasteners. Potentially damaging fasteners should be carefully removed from archival documents before they are put into long-term storage. Fasteners should always be left in place if removing them will cause damage.