2 min read
How to Preserve Handwritten Captions on Old Photos
Keep a handwritten photo caption with its picture by copying both sides, noting uncertain names, and labeling the enclosure rather than the print.
To preserve a handwritten caption on an old photograph, copy the front and back before changing its storage. Give those two files the same identifier, transcribe the writing exactly, and keep any uncertain reading marked as uncertain. The caption may be the only surviving link between the people in the picture and their names.
Copy the writing without adding to it
Handle the print by its edges on a clean, dry surface. Copy the whole back, not just the line that looks important: handwriting, a studio stamp, and an old filing number can all help identify the image later. The National Archives' photograph guidance recommends identifying a photograph on its storage enclosure whenever possible. The Library of Congress likewise advises against marking the photograph and against tape, sticky notes, glue, and clips. Do not write a new caption over the old one.
If the photograph is curled, mounted, or fragile, do not force it flat just to scan the back. The Archives warns against forcing oversized originals under a scanner lid and against automatic feeders for fragile material. Our scanning guide explains when to change the copying method.
Keep the front, back, and transcript together
Use a stable identifier such as photo-014-front and photo-014-back, then put a transcript in a note carrying photo-014. The National Archives' digitizing guidance recommends recording who, what, where, and when as metadata and backing up digital files. Its file-naming advice favors simple letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Our file-naming guide has a fuller scheme.
Transcribe what is there before interpreting it. If a surname could be "Miller" or "Milner," write [Miller or Milner] in your note rather than silently choosing one. Record who supplied any later identification and when. Store the original in a suitable enclosure with the identifier on the enclosure, so future relatives can compare the writing with your transcript instead of trusting a corrected version alone.
