White gloves and archives

[seaJane]

For anyone who's ever wondered about the white glove question:

http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/the-gloves-are-off/

[Waggoner]

I completely agree! Gloves are generally more of a danger to, than a protection for, most artefacts.

All the best,

Gary

[Khaki]

I completely agree! Gloves are generally more of a danger to, than a protection for, most artefacts.

All the best,

Gary

Except in boxing, however really interesting article ,I agree totally wearing gloves is OK when handling fabrics (uniforms) etc but with paper they are a nuisance,

khaki

[Gibbo]

Thanks for this link.

I'd always assumed that the white gloves worn by TV presenters handling documents were just for show, and it looks as if I was correct. I've handled documents from the 1890s at the NA without being asked to wear gloves, and sat next to people who were handling what seemed to be even older files without gloves. TV presenters, however, seem to wear them for WWII documents, perhaps even for files just released under the 30 year rule.

[seaJane]

As the article says at the end, photographs are a different matter (and so are coins and medals, come to that) as skin acids in their case can be corrosive.

[Khaki]

I think it depends, I once new a collector of high quality Colt revolvers, he would not let anyone handle them without gloves, I would imagine that sword collectors would understand.

khaki

[Ron Clifton]

Except in boxing ...

khaki

And gardening. Trust me!

I have never been asked to wear gloves when handling documents at either TNA or the Cambridge UL. As others have remarked, it is a different matter with artefacts.

Ron

[clive_hughes]

Fourteen years as an archivist in two archives, plus many, many visits to all sorts of archives before and since: and never once have I seen a pair of white gloves or been asked to wear them!

Clive

[Khaki]

The last time i wore white gloves was with formal evening dress, I think I would wear gloves if requested by a collector or archivist without too much concern.

khaki

[johnboy]

Wearing gloves would make it difficult to wet your thumb and finger to flick the pages over.

[Kath]

Wearing gloves would make it difficult to wet your thumb and finger to flick the pages over.

Kath.

[healdav]

My local national archive does not insist on wearing gloves to handle normal paper documents, but does so very vehemently when parchment or very old paper is being consulted.

[seaJane]

Wearing gloves would make it difficult to wet your thumb and finger to flick the pages over.

*faints*

[nigelcave]

In our archives gloves are not used, but they are used for vellum - not a big issue in the matter of Great War documentation (except possibly relevant Acts of Parliament).

[seaJane]

I'm quite surprised about the vellum as in fact human skin oils are, if anything, good for leather.