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Harold Edgerton, inventor of the electronic flash, was born in Fremont, Nebraska on April 6, 1903. Very early in life he developed an interest in electrical power generation. He enrolled in the University of Nebraska, where he achieved a BS in electrical engineering, and then went on to MIT, where he obtained both his master's and his PhD degree.
Edgerton is well known for his legendary photographs. You're sure to recognize images such as the drop of milk exploding into a crown, a bullet hovering beside an apple, or an atomic blast caught the instant before it mushroomed.
Edgerton was an innovator and a photographer, but he fundamentally thought of himself as a teacher. Popular for his hands-on approach to teaching, he taught some of the most-liked classes at MIT, where he was awarded the highest title of the university: Institute Professor.
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Preventing Mold And Mildew
Mold and mildew are both fungi just like  mushrooms. They feed by excreting enzymes that digest organic matter like paper or photographs. This digestion weakens paper and etches the surface of photographs. Molds can also ooze colored substances that cause stains. To grow, molds don't need light as plants do; all they need is high humidity (usually above 60%). Here are some steps to reduce the chance of mold damage in your albums:
Control the humidity. Reducing the  moisture in the air around your scrapbooks will significantly lower the chance of mold growth. Select dry areas of the home to store your albums and photos. Avoid storing such objects in the basement, as it usually is the dampest place in the house. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers can reduce the chance for mold by lowering humidity. In very humid climates, an air conditioner may not be able to handle the moisture load, so a dehumidifier would be more reliable. If you monitor your indoor humidity, you should be able to tell if your air conditioner is sufficient to keep the humidity down.
Keep air moving. Moving air encourages  evaporation of moisture from the surface of scrapbooks and memorabilia. You don't need to use a fan, as most home spaces have a natural air current. Just avoid closed closets and other closed storage areas, especially those with walls adjacent to the outside. Cold walls can cause higher humidity or even condensation, so if the door to the closet is kept closed, humidity can build up.
Keep the area clean. Keeping storage  area surfaces clean will also help prevent colonies from developing. Wipe down walls, floors, and shelving using mold killing cleaners like Lysol® or Clorox®. Just make sure to use these safely and keep the area well ventilated.
Mold is not a monster and can be managed. The key is keeping things dry and clean.
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Tips & Tricks
How to Remove Staples from Old Documents
 If you want to remove a staple from an old document, by all means try to avoid stressing the paper. Never use a staple remover, as it will harm the document. Instead, slide a wedge-shaped strip of polyester film under the staple's closed side. Then turn the document over, and, using clean needle-nose pliers, twist the tines of the staple 90º toward the wide end of the polyester wedge, parallel to the surface of the paper. Finally, turn the document over again, and, with the help of the wedge, gently pull the staple out.
If your document is fragile or of great value, you may want to consult a conservator before attempting this or any other restoration technique.
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Terms of the Month
Lossless - A term describing a method of data compression in which smaller files are attained without the loss of any color or pixel data, thus permitting the reconstruction of original data from the compressed data (e.g., TIFF).
Lossy - A term describing a method of data compression in which smaller files are attained by eliminating some of the original data; thus, decompression will not retrieve the original data (e.g., JPEG).
Archival Advisor Glossary
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Link of the Month
ArchiveMyPhotos.org
This website offers information on how to shoot, store, save, and archive your digital photos to optical discs.
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